Tennis-Pegula, Collins, Kessler withdraw from U.S. BJK Cup team

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 17, 2025 Jessica Pegula of the U.S. in action during her third round match against Serbia's Olga Danilovic REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Jessica Pegula, Danielle Collins and McCartney Kessler have withdrawn from the United States' Billie Jean King Cup team, the USTA said on Wednesday, with a handful of newcomers rounding out the group ahead of the qualifying stage.

Alycia Parks, Bernarda Pera and Hailey Baptiste were named to the U.S. team, along with BJK Cup veterans Asia Muhammad and Desirae Krawczyk.

The United States are hoping to bounce back after exiting the finals against Slovakia in the first round last year and the will face the country again on the 13th after meeting Denmark on Saturday.

The qualifying stage features 18 countries in six round-robin groups with the finals set for November.

(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York)