By Tennis Now | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, April 12, 2025
Photo credit: Hameltion/Wikimedia Commons
Hailey Baptiste and Bernarda Pera marked their entries into the Billie Jean King Cup with impressive victories, guiding the United States to a commanding 3-0 win over Denmark in Bratislava. This triumph sets the stage for a critical Qualifying match against Slovakia on Sunday, with a coveted spot in the 2025 Finals at stake.
“We anticipated a challenging weekend, no matter which team we faced,” remarked U.S. captain Lindsay Davenport. “We were the favorites against Denmark, but I’m incredibly proud of how our two newcomers delivered exceptional performances. Their tenacity shone through on the court. They executed all we practiced with dedication; I couldn’t be happier for Hailey and Bernarda. Their achievements today mean everything.”
“Both players started strong, particularly Hailey. While they experienced pre-match nerves—an indication of their passion—Hailey’s confident opening played a crucial role in settling her down,” Davenport added.
“There were some extended games in the second set, but Hailey managed to navigate through them successfully. Bernarda demonstrated remarkable resilience; she trained diligently throughout the week and set a great example for her teammates. Her professionalism and enthusiasm to represent the U.S. were evident.”
The American squad is eager to overcome Slovakia for the first time in three attempts, seeking retribution after their last encounter, where Slovakia narrowly edged out the U.S. in a tight doubles tiebreak that resulted in the Americans’ exit from the 2024 Finals.
The winner of tomorrow’s bout will qualify for the upcoming eight-nation Finals, slated for September 16-21 in Shenzhen, China, joining Italy, China, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, and Spain, who have already secured their spots.
The defeated team on Sunday will participate in the Playoff round during the week of November 10, engaging in a round-robin format with seven groups of three nations, aiming to reclaim their place in the Qualifying pool for 2026.
USA 3, Denmark 0
Hailey Baptiste (USA) defeated Rebecca Munk Mortensen (DEN) with a score of 6-1, 6-4
Bernarda Pera (USA) triumphed over Johanne Svendsen (DEN), 6-3, 6-1
Desirae Krawczyk/Asia Muhammad (USA) won against Laura Brunkel/Emilie Francati (DEN), 6-4, 6-1
Sunday, April 13 (3 p.m. local; 9 a.m. ET)
USA vs. Slovakia
*Singles A
*Singles B
*Doubles
