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Tennis being an individual sport, missing a team event is a huge thing. But sometimes circumstances might be rough for tennis players to choose between a team event or a singles tournament. While such a team event as Billie Jean King is approaching, there is a huge shocker for American tennis fans. Initially, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were some of the names that would miss out on the international team competition.

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While Team America is all set to take over the tournament, with other American stars lined up to do their best. The two Americans, the 2023 US Open champion and her doubles partner, are likely to miss this huge event, creating a worry for the whole team.

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Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula won’t play in the Billie Jean King tournament

The American numbers one and two, both shining stars of America, have decided to skip the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup Finals. In the absence of both tennis players, Madison Keys will lead the team, displaying an all-new side of herself on the tennis court. Recently, the official Twitter account of the tournament introduced the team USA out to the world.

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Madison Keys, Sofia Kenin, Danielle Collins, Sloane Stephens, and Taylor Townsend will all be on the USA team. Meanwhile, their absence from the tournament might put the American team in jeopardy as they try to do their best to lift the title for the country.

The biggest team competition is just two days after the WTA final, which will take place in Mexico. On the other hand, the team event will be played in Spain. However, the 19-year-old tennis sensation was a part of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, but her team was not able to make it further and found defeat in the group stage itself.

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READ MORE: ‘On the Fence’ Coco Gauff Gets Real About Receiving Major Blow Ahead of European Clay Summer – ‘Just Me and My Dad’

Subsequently, the 29-year-old was not a part of the tournament last year, and this year itself, he opted out just before the tournament. While Pegula’s reason for withdrawal is not clear, there might be another reason why the 2023 US Open champion skipped the tournament, as this is not the first event she has taken aback after the China Open.

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Coco Gauff to miss a WTA 500 event 

After facing an unfortunate injury against Iga Swiatek during the semi-final round at the Beijing Open, things have not been great for the third-ranked tennis player. While she was on her 16-match winning streak, she suffered a shoulder injury that created a problem during the semi-final. She recently announced that she won’t be participating in, this week’s Zhengzhou Open because of the same concern.

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While the unfortunate injury might have haunted the 19-year-old tennis player’s spirit, she has still not revealed the reason behind withdrawing from the Bille Jean King tournament. It won’t be wrong to say that the injury can be one of the biggest reasons behind her two withdrawals.

Nevertheless, what do you think about Gauff’s and Pegula’s absence from the team event? Post your comments in the space provided below.

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Written by

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Pratishtha Prakash

2,948 Articles

Pratishtha Prakash, senior tennis writer and resident analyst at EssentiallySports isn't just a sports journalist; she's a storyteller who found her true calling in tennis content. It is something she seamlessly integrates into both her professional and personal realms. At ES, she has curated more than 2400 articles, and each write-up reflects that fans are here to stay! Having professional certifications in content and digital marketing, Pratishtha has made it a habit to hone her skills as a quality journalist. Her sweet spot lies in articles exploring fan reactions and off-court tales. As an analyst, she elevates her storytelling with technical finesse. Beyond the pixels, Pratishtha trades her keyboard for the dance floor and loves to explore new places during her time off from work.

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Aishwary Gaonkar

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