Team USA Sweeps Junior Billie Jean King Cup
and Davis Cup 2025 Titles

The United States secured a landmark moment in junior tennis this weekend, sweeping both the Billie Jean King Cup Junior finals and the Davis Cup Junior finals for the second consecutive year. Victories in Santiago, Chile, made the U.S. the first nation to win both premier 16-and-under international team competitions in back-to-back seasons, cementing a “double-double” and showcasing the depth of American youth tennis. The rosters featured standout Southern California natives Julieta Pareja of Carlsbad and Andrew Johnson of Rancho Palos Verdes, both of whom played pivotal roles.

The U.S. girls extended their dynasty with a 2-0 win over France, capturing a fourth consecutive Billie Jean King Cup Junior title and their tenth overall. The United States previously won the tournament in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. Southern California has been well represented on these winning teams, with Pareja helping secure the 2024 and 2025 titles and Torrance’s Iva Jovic part of the back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023. 

World No. 1 junior Kristina Penickova of Campbell, California, set the tone with a 6-2, 6-0 win in the opening match. Julieta Pareja, ITF junior No. 5 and previously ranked No. 1 earlier this year, then clinched the championship with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over France’s Ksenia Efremova. For both Pareja and Penickova, the win marked a successful return, having helped the U.S. lift the trophy in 2024.

Reflecting on the week, Pareja told the ITF, “I think this week was really special. We all played really well. For Kristina… starting out with the first match is never easy and she killed it this week! She made it a little bit easier for me. I think it was a really good team effort from all of us and we were all super-focused. Last year was very special… but this year I think is even more special, defending the title both guys and girls again. It’s definitely amazing.”

On the boys’ side, the United States defended its Junior Davis Cup crown with a decisive 2-0 win over Japan. Andrew Johnson maintained his undefeated run with a hard-fought victory over Takahiro Kawaguchi, giving the U.S. early control.

“The experience at Junior Davis Cup was truly something special. I had the honor of playing for my country—my home,” Johnson shared. “It was also amazing because I met so many new and interesting people from different countries. In a way, it gave me a new perspective on both life and tennis. Definitely the most important thing that was going through my mind this week was to do good for my team and even better for my country. I felt complete joy celebrating the win with the USA team, boys and girls. It was truly an honor.”

Michael Antonius of Buffalo, New York, sealed the title with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Kanta Watanabe, completing a dominant week that added a fifth Junior Davis Cup crown to the nation’s history (following titles in 1999, 2008, 2014, and 2024). Southern California players have been key contributors, with Johnson helping secure the 2025 title and Torrance’s Keaton Hance, who won the Boys’ Junior Doubles title at the US Open this year, part of the 2024 championship team.

This season marks the fourth time the United States has won both junior titles in the same year, previously achieving the feat in 2008, 2014, and 2024. Only two other nations—Australia in 1987 and Germany in 1989—have accomplished this “double,” highlighting the historic significance of the U.S. sweep.

Both American teams were dominant throughout, dropping just three sets across round-robin and knockout rounds on Santiago’s clay courts. Their success continues a legacy built by past participants who became legends, including Rancho Palos Verdes’ Lindsay Davenport, Andy Roddick, Sloane Stephens, Coco Gauff, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Carlos Alcaraz. The 2025 finals also showcased the next generation of U.S. talent poised for the professional tour.

For Southern California, the achievement hits close to home. Julieta Pareja and Andrew Johnson rose through local programs and now rank among the top juniors globally. Their performances in Santiago not only contributed to historic team victories but also highlight the region’s growing influence in shaping the future of American tennis.

With back-to-back “double-double” titles, the United States has firmly established itself as the global standard in junior team tennis, demonstrating the depth of its development programs and the promise of a new generation ready to make their mark.

—

The full U.S. team nominations:

Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Junior Finals
Julieta Pareja (16; Carlsbad, Calif.)
Annika Penickova (16; Campbell, Calif./Orlando, Fla.)
Kristina Penickova (16; Campbell, Calif./Orlando, Fla.)
Captain: Georgi Rumenov

Davis Cup Junior Finals
Michael Antonius (15; Buffalo, N.Y.)
Andrew Johnson (16; Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.)
Jordan Lee (15; Orlando, Fla.)
Captain: Sylvain Guichard