Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula: Will US stars withdraw from Billie Jean King Cup Finals?

The USA have named a strong team for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals next month, but how many of the side will actually make the trip to Glasgow? 

While Kathy Rinaldi’s squad are one of the favourites to win the tournament on paper, this year’s packed tennis schedule may result in some of the team opting not to play. 

Joining the USA in Group D are 11-time champions the Czech Republic as well as Poland, who are competing in their first-ever Finals. 

As such, Rinaldi will be desperate for all five members of her current squad to compete, even if the US do have plenty of able players waiting in the wings. 

Rinaldi’s team includes two players in the world’s top 10 and two in the top 20. 

World number six Jessica Pegula and number eight Coco Gauff will front the team and will be joined by Madison Keys, Danielle Collins and Taylor Townsend. 

Gauff, 18,will be making her debut in the competition, four years after helping the USA win the junior team championship.

Meanwhile, Townsend’s inclusion comes off the back of a resurgent campaign at the US Open, where she reached the final of the women’s doubles. 

The big question is whether Gauff and Pegula will take part in this year’s competition. 

While the event is considered the most prestigious team tournament in women’s tennis, it starts just one day after the conclusion of the WTA Finals ––- which has one of the biggest prize pools in all of tennis. 

The WTA Finals is uniquely reserved for the top eight players of the year and sees them compete against one another in a round-robin group format. 

Both Pegula and Gauff are almost certain to qualify for the event and currently sit third and fourth respectively in the race to the WTA Finals. 

Though neither has pulled out of the US