BILLIE JEAN KING CUP: USA VS GREAT BRITAIN

September 20, 2025

Lindsay Davenport

Jessica Pegula

Team USA

Semi-Final Press Conference

J. PEGULA/K. Boulter

3-6, 6-4, 6-2

Team USA - 2

Team Great Britain - 0

THE MODERATOR: Jessica, how happy were you with the turnaround and to be in the Final?

JESSICA PEGULA: Super happy. Yeah, it was a battle both matches today for me and Emma. Happy to be through there. I really wanted to not let that go to a doubles. Especially after against Kazakhstan, I wanted to prove that I'm playing as the No. 1 player on the team for a reason and close it out. So I'm glad I was able to turn that around.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Jessica, what do you think changed from the first set to that second set? Felt pretty drastic. What were the differences?

JESSICA PEGULA: I thought I came out just kind of slow and weird. She was playing just better than me in the first set, for sure. She was coming out firing, going for her shots. I felt like I was just kind of off balance, not really using my legs. My serve patterns weren't really great.

I feel like I actually ended up serving really well in the second and third set there. I kind of turned it around. I had to up my level. I think I just went back to the strategy on my serve, focused really hard on the returns, and the points just tried to dig in, get my feet under me, try and find my rhythm a little bit. I think I was able to play much better tennis in the third.

Q. What does it mean to you to get this U.S. team into the Final? It's a huge moment for you individually, but together it seems like you're all having a lot of fun out there.

JESSICA PEGULA: We're all having so much fun. It's the first time I've ever been into a Final, the first time they all have been. It's a new experience that I get to experience with all of them, so that's fun. We're happy about today. We've got to regroup and be ready for Italy.

I think we're just really enjoying the moment. Win or lose, we're such a great team. It's a privilege to be amongst all these girls and to experience it.

Q. How important was it to you to wrap it up after the two singles games, considering you have a relatively short turnaround for tomorrow, compared to Italy?

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I was, like, in bed while they were still playing last night. I was like, Oh, I don't want to be in that position tomorrow (smiling).

I mean, once Emma got that first win, obviously it takes a lot of pressure in a way off of me, but at the same time I want to be the one responsible for being able to kind of finish it and not have it go to a doubles, even though I still feel like if it did, we have a lot of faith in our team and our doubles players. Yeah, it just makes things a lot easier for everyone.

I think with the quick turnaround, like you said, we get a little bit more rest, especially after two tough matches tonight. That really helps going into tomorrow.

Q. How do you feel about your rivals tomorrow?

JESSICA PEGULA: I mean, they're going to be really tough. They're defending champs. We've seen them battle all week. They compete really hard. I've seen Paolini come back, like, every single match and compete.

It's not going to be easy, but that's why we're out here playing and competing. We get to test ourselves against one of the best teams. I'm excited to get out there. It will be fun.

Q. Jessica, if you can elaborate even more about your former matchup against Paolini. You are 5-nil ahead. Last one was in 2023, so... Completely different player.

JESSICA PEGULA: Yeah, I haven't played her in a while. I definitely haven't played her I feel like where she's been a top-10 player. I think it will be interesting because we haven't played each other in a while.

I'm familiar with her game. I think she's not really the same player as last time I played her. In this format, in these tournaments, in these matches, like, you can't take anybody lightly. I think we've shown that, that everybody can play at a high level. It doesn't really matter.

She's one of the best players in the world right now. It will be exciting to play her for the first time in a while.

Q. Lindsay, I'd like to know what do you expect first of all from Italy? How much make difference having no rest between the two ties?

CAPTAIN LINDSAY DAVENPORT: We came here expecting tough battles in every match we were going to play. We'll expect the same tomorrow against the defending champions and a team that has played very well together.

As far as the rest goes, I'm not too worried about that. When these ladies play regular tournaments, they play back-to-back days. We have a late start tomorrow.

We have a fantastic support staff with us that is going to help get everybody ready and turn around and get ready for tomorrow.

Everybody's healthy. That's the biggest thing on our team. Everybody's healthy. Everybody's happy. This was our goal, to give ourselves a chance to play on Sunday. We'll take it.

Q. Lindsay, you've been in this position as a player going into a Billie Jean King Cup Final, or Fed Cup Final previously. Can you talk about your memories of that, what you hope to bring in terms of that experience with the players tomorrow.

CAPTAIN LINDSAY DAVENPORT: Yeah, obviously it's a little different when it was 20 whatever years ago. I played in a much different format. It wasn't all in one week. We had the whole week to get ready for one team. This is obviously a different format.

I try to stress the importance of this event and representing your country, how much this means. We've had a wonderful time this whole week. That's been the most important for us.

The Finals are something special. These ladies have done a fantastic job of getting us to the Final. We had a very tough draw here. We're looking forward to it tomorrow.

All of these wonderful players on my team know how to play in big moments and under pressure. It's nothing new. They both figured out ways to win today. There was a lot of pressure on both Emma and Jess. I am so proud with how they both turned around their matches after the first sets.

Q. I want to know how you feel about this victory here in China. This is such a unifying experience to be able to, especially, have national pride and bring it overseas in a place where tennis is really starting to pick up and there are lots of young Asian women seeing a pathway as an athlete or as a coach. What does that mean to you? How has been being in China changed your perspective of the game?

JESSICA PEGULA: I think the fan turnout has been really great. That's always exciting to see. Coming as a player the first time it being here in China with all these different countries, I feel like you see a lot of representation, for sure. We're having great crowds. Even when we played our first match at 10 a.m., I was surprised, to be honest. I think that's really cool.

I feel like the people here, they love seeing new, exciting things. I feel like they always get really excited about it and want to learn more about it. I've learned I have a lot of Chinese fans, as well. I've gotten a lot of gifts.

CAPTAIN LINDSAY DAVENPORT: And a nickname.

JESSICA PEGULA: A Chinese nickname, I've been told (smiling).

I think the fans here are so creative. They give me, like, the most thoughtful gifts ever. I just think it's so cool to be able to experience our sport in a totally different culture and being able to be a part of growing that sport in an area where, like you said, there's a lot of young girls watching is always really cool.

CAPTAIN LINDSAY DAVENPORT: It's been a privilege to be here. We've been treated so wonderful by the tournament. It's been fun to play here. I haven't been back since the 2008 Olympics. To see all the changes in this country, to see all the growth in this sport. As Jess said, to see the younger fans has been really fun for us.

It was our goal to make it here. We made it here. We're through to the Final. Everything has been perfect for us here this week. Excited for one last day of competition tomorrow.

Q. Jessica, you are known for your mental toughness. Can you share how you stay calm during the crucial points.

JESSICA PEGULA: I think I'm just a calm person in general. That's kind of my personality. I think actually sometimes I need to, like, get more energy to get fired up.

I felt like today I had to do that. I had to find energy somewhere to get myself going because I just didn't feel like I was playing that well, playing at a high enough level.

My mom was always very calm. Maybe I got it from her. I think it's just personality.

Q. You have reached the US Open winning singles semifinal in two consecutive years. In which aspect do you think you made the most significant breakthrough?

JESSICA PEGULA: At the US Open? I made multiple breakthroughs at the US Open in a way over the last couple years. I think being able to come back as a semifinalist again, obviously I would have loved to be in a final, and I thought I played a great match against Sabalenka. It wasn't in the cards.

But to be able to be an American and play at the US Open and be able to have another great result in the following year after the final was a little surprising in a way for me just 'cause I wasn't playing that well at the time.

It was really fun. It just always inspires me playing in New York City. I think it just brings out my best tennis. I always love playing there.