In two of the final and most illustrious events of the professional tennis season, Southern California royalty led the charge, as Lindsay Davenport (Laguna Beach) and Bob Bryan (Camarillo) captained teams representing the United States in the Billie Jean King Cup and the Davis Cup.

BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

After Kathy Rinaldi stepped down as captain in June 2023, it was only natural that Lindsay Davenport would take the helm. A three-time Billie Jean King Cup champion and International Tennis Hall-of-Famer with multiple Grand Slam titles, Davenport is one of the most accomplished players for both the United States and in the history of the event. Over the course of 11 years, she competed in 20 ties, amassing an impressive 26-3 singles record and a perfect 7-0 mark in doubles. Her 26 singles victories tie her with Billie Jean King for second-most all-time for the United States. Known for her leadership on and off the court, Davenport quickly became the natural choice to guide the U.S. team.

The squad first secured a 4-0 victory over Belgium in April’s qualifying round, with a roster that included Jessica Pegula, Madison Keys, Emma Navarro, Caroline Dolehide, and Taylor Townsend. Navarro played a pivotal role in securing the win for the third consecutive year, propelling the team into the first round of competition in November.

In the first round, the United States faced Slovakia. Despite Keys, Navarro and Pegula being unable to participate, Davenport was able to assemble a more than formidable lineup, featuring top-ranked players like Dolehide, Townsend, Danielle Collins, Peyton Stearns and Ashlyn Krueger.

The U.S. took an early lead in the contest, with Townsend winning the first singles match to put the team up 1-0. However, Collins lost her singles match, evening the score at 1-1. In a heartbreaking turn, Krueger and Townsend fell to Slovakia’s Viktoria Hruncakova and Tereza Mihalikova in a tense doubles battle, with the final score reading 6-3, 3-6, 10-8. The loss eliminated the U.S. from the BJK Cup, and propelled Slovakia to the quarterfinals. 

Although the result was disappointing, the matches provided invaluable experience for both Davenport and her players. It served as an opportunity to learn and refine their strategies, preparing them for future challenges and shaping how they will approach next year’s BJK Cup. 

DAVIS CUP

A fixture in American tennis, Bob Bryan, who boasts the most appearances (15) and the best doubles record (25-5) in Davis Cup history, has a long track record of success in the event. Alongside his twin brother Mike, Bob formed one of the most dominant doubles teams in tennis history. Taking over for Mardy Fish, Bryan was appointed as the captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team in March of 2023, tasked with revitalizing the squad and leading them to their first title in seventeen years.

In his second stint as captain this year, Bryan set his sights on advancing to the Final 8 and beyond, after the team’s promising qualification campaign earlier in the year.

The U.S. first secured its spot in the Group Stage with a commanding 4-0 victory over Ukraine in February, where Sebastian Korda, Christopher Eubanks, and Taylor Fritz each claimed singles wins, while Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram dominated in doubles.

The U.S. then finished the Group Stage with a perfect 3-0 record. They swept Chile 3-0, triumphed 3-0 over Slovakia, and closed out the stage with a 2-1 victory over Germany.

Brandon Nakashima, a rising star from San Diego, was particularly impressive during the group matches, collecting three singles wins. Reilly Opelka also contributed with two victories, while Korda, Eubanks, Fritz, and Mackenzie McDonald each chipped in with wins as well. In doubles, Krajicek and Ram were dominant, securing three victories together.

With their Group Stage performance, the U.S. advanced to the Davis Cup Final 8 this November, where they were set to face Australia in a high-stakes encounter. The U.S. roster for the Final 8 was stacked with talent, featuring three of the world’s top-25 singles players in Fritz (No. 4), Ben Shelton (No. 12), and Tommy Paul (No. 21). Krajicek and Ram rounded out the group as key members of Bryan’s Davis Cup squad.

After a singles loss by Shelton and a win from Fritz, the tie was locked at 1-1, with the outcome of the doubles match set to determine which team would advance. Initially, it seemed that the duo of Krajicek and Ram would take the court against Australia’s Matt Ebden and Jordan Thompson. However, Bryan made a surprising decision, opting to pair Paul and Shelton together instead—shaking up the lineup, looking to catch Australia by surprise.

This unexpected move became one of the most talked-about moments of the Davis Cup tie. The change in doubles pairing was seen by some as a risky move, given Krajicek and Ram’s success together in previous rounds. In the end, Australia triumphed in the doubles match, with Ebden and Thompson getting the better of Paul and Shelton, ultimately securing Australia’s place in the semifinals.

While the decision to alter the doubles lineup will remain a topic of debate, it also reflects Bryan’s willingness to experiment and adapt, which is crucial for his continued development as a captain. As Bryan continues to lead the U.S. team, this experience will likely help refine his strategic choices in future Davis Cup campaigns, as he aims to guide the Americans back to the top of the global tennis hierarchy.