U.S. beats hosts Slovakia, qualifies for 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals

A steady performance from Hailey Baptiste and a resilient comeback from Bernarda Pera lifted the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Team through to the 2025 Finals with a 2-1 victory over Slovakia to win Qualifying Group C in Bratislava on Sunday. 

Baptiste and Pera, each making their first Billie Jean King Cup appearances, combined to go 4-0 in singles over the weekend to clinch victories over both Denmark and the host Slovakians. After Baptiste gave the Americans a 1-0 lead in Sunday's decisive tie, Pera rallied from 0-4 down in the second set against world No. 37 Rebecca Sramkova to clinch the Finals berth for the U.S.

"I'm just so, so happy for this group," captain Lindsay Davenport said of a squad that also included Alycia Parks and doubles veterans Desirae Krawczyk and Asia Muhammad.

"They were amazing all week and in practice. We had a feeling like we had the right momentum, had the right confidence, had the right chemistry with the ladies that were here. But to see both Hailey and Bernarda rise to the occasion, especially Bernarda—playing a player ranked higher in this kind of environment and how she was just able to settle down in the big moments—I was really, really proud.

After Baptiste opened Sunday's do-or-die tie with a 6-3, 6-4 result against Renata Jamrichova, Pera clinched victory with a 7-6(2), 7-5 win over Sramkova.

"Oh my god, it feels amazing," Pera said after completing a perfect BJK Cup debut weekend.