2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals: Kathy Rinaldi ready for final ride as U.S. captain

The U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team is hoping to send Kathy Rinaldi out on top. 

Rinaldi, the head of women's tennis for the USTA, announced earlier this year that she'd be stepping down from her other post of team captain at the conclusion of this year's Billie Jean King Cup Finals, which begin Tuesday in Seville, Spain. In 2024, she'll be succeeded in the role by three-time Grand Slam singles champion and International Tennis Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport.

On the eve of the Finals, Rinaldi said that the last six years as captain have been "a dream," but that she's firmly focused on the business at hand: the U.S.'s pursuit of a record-extending 18th Billie Jean King Cup title. The U.S. will not see match action in Saville until Thursday, when its faces defending champions Switzerland in Group A round-robin action. 

"In the back of my mind I know that [it's my last], but it's not about me," an emotional Rinaldi said Monday in Seville. "It's never been about me. It's about these players. That's what I'm going to miss the most is being with these players.

"It's going to be a special week. It already has been a special week. We are having a great time. We are working hard and having fun. We are going to be ready to go on Thursday. I'm just enjoying every second like I do every other tie. ... I know when the last day comes, that's it. I'm not captain anymore. But I know Lindsay will do a great job and step in. I'm happy for her. But this is a dream job to be with these ladies. That bench is special."

For her final go-around at the helm, Rinaldi is leading a team of two Grand Slam singles champions—Sofia Kenin and Sloane Stephens; two Grand Slam singles and doubles finalists, Danielle Collins and Taylor Townsend; and rookie Peyton Stearns, who was called up to replace Madison Keys on the roster last week . 

Being Rinaldi's final five is a full circle moment, they say. 

"When you get out there, the matchups, you never know who's going to play who," Stephens said. "You never know who is going to come out and play and show up. I think that's what makes the U.S. so good and so strong at every single tie is because we always have an A, B, C, D, E team that can always go out and kick anyone's ass.

"I think us being here, it being Kathy's last tie, we show up every single tie, but this tie we are playing more than ourselves, more than our country, we are playing for our captain. We want to make sure we get out there and do everything we can."

Rinaldi led the U.S. to the Billie Jean King Cup title in 2017, when it was still called Fed Cup, and a runner-up finish in 2018. In 2021, her team reached the semifinals, advancing out of round-robin play in the first edition of the competition's now-standard single-site format.