U.S. bows out to Slovakia at 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals

An inspired Slovakian team put an early end to the United States' Billie Jean King Cup title hopes early Friday morning in Malaga, Spain, clocking a 2-1 victory in a decisive doubles match to move onto the quarterfinals.

After Taylor Townsend won her first Billie Jean King Cup singles match over 17-year-old junior star Renata Jamrichova by a 7-5, 6-4 scoreline, world No. 43 Rebecca Sramkova upended Danielle Collins in the night's second singles, 6-2, 7-5.

Subbing an in-form Townsend back in for doubles and pairing the reigning Wimbledon doubles champion with rookie Ashlyn Krueger was first-year captain Lindsay Davenport's play for the no-ad, match-tiebreak decider.

The American pair sparked some optimism in the third-set match tiebreak, saving six match points to nearly level at 9-all, but the comeback fell just short in a 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 defeat.

"I'm super proud of how [the team]," said Davenport. "Tough night, no doubt. But hopefully we'll be back next year and ready to go to work again."

The U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team awaits its draw for the 2025 Qualifying round, held the week of April 7, 2025. Next year's format will see three nations play round-robin matches at one of seven qualifying sites, with the winner of each round-robin group advancing to the eight-nation Finals.