Past, present and future of Billie Jean King Cup unite at 2023 Qualifier

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - The old adage of "one team, one dream" couldn't have rang truer this week in Delray Beach, Fla. as the past, present and future of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team all came together for a celebration of women's tennis at the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifier. 

The supporting events surrounding this weekend's tie between the U.S. and Austria, won by the Americans to put them into November's Billie Jean King Cup Finals, elevated it into something akin to a festival atmosphere, and made it a fitting stage for what has made U.S. women's tennis special in the last six decades. Over the course of the week leading up to Friday and Saturday's matches, the current U.S. team—here, made up of Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins, Sofia Kenin and Caty McNally—also had the opportunity to hear from those who donned the red, white and blue before them firsthand in a variety of settings, including at the event's welcome reception with the Austrian team, and at a multi-generational dinner for U.S. Billie Jean King Cup players that saw past players like Rosie Casals, Chris Evert, Andrea Jaeger, Billie Jean King and others tell the stories of their careers. 

"That was actually really cool," Pegula said. "I was just talking to Danielle, and I was like, 'Wow, they're talking about changing the entire game, creating the game, creating the WTA, fighting communism.' There was a lot of depth in there. 

"I'm thinking, 'That wasn't that long ago.' It's really insane that that's where it all started, different generations, of this whole process to where we are today. I think it's just super inspiring and really makes you appreciate these weeks."

This competition, colloquially called the women's World Cup of tennis, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, having first been played in 1963. Formerly named Fed Cup, the event was rebranded in King's honor in 2020, but two other U.S. legends were honored for their services to the U.S. team in their careers in Delray Beach. 

On Friday, the first night of the two-day tie, Evert was presented with the Billie Jean King Cup Commitment Award, and Rosie Casals was presented with her award on Saturday. The award is given to women who have shown exceptional dedication to their countries in the event over their careers, and Casals and Evert are just two of the eight Americans to receive it all-time. 

Evert represented the U.S. a total of 42 times from 1977 to 1989, and helped the U.S. to eight of its 18 all-time titles. She posted a 57-4 record, and a 40-2 mark in singles, in the event; both are U.S. records.