(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Jessica Pegula and Taylor Townsend Lead USA to Billie Jean King Cup Semifinals
The United States advanced to the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals for the first time since 2021, with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Kazakhstan on Thursday.
In the decisive doubles match, Jessica Pegula and Taylor Townsend defeated Yulia Putintseva and Elena Rybakina 6-2, 7-6 (1), securing the U.S. win.
Earlier in singles, Emma Navarro pulled off a stunning upset against Putintseva, winning 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (6) after saving two match points. Navarro came back from a 6-4 deficit in the tiebreak to claim victory after a marathon 2½-hour match.
Kazakhstan had evened the tie when former Wimbledon champion Rybakina overcame Pegula 6-4, 6-1 in a high-profile top-10 clash.
Pegula, bouncing back from her first loss to Rybakina in 2½ years, teamed up with Townsend—world No. 1 in doubles and a two-time Grand Slam champion—to dominate the final match. Townsend helped the U.S. pair claim the second-set tiebreak, sealing victory on a Rybakina double fault.
The U.S. now moves forward to the semifinals, keeping hopes alive for a strong run in this year’s Billie Jean King Cup.
