World No. 2 Coco Gauff’s turbulent summer has taken another disappointing turn. Following her unexpected first-round exit at Wimbledon 2025, the 21-year-old tennis star has now been left out of Team USA’s lineup for the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup Finals, set to begin on September 18 in Shenzhen, China.
Omission from Team USA adds to Coco Gauff’s string of setbacks
Despite being the reigning French Open champion and one of the sport’s brightest young talents, Gauff will not represent the United States in the prestigious international tournament often dubbed the “World Cup of Women’s Tennis.”
According to an official press release from the USTA and Billie Jean King Cup captain Lindsay Davenport, the U.S. team will be led by World No. 4 Jessica Pegula and 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys. The rest of the squad includes Emma Navarro, Hailey Baptiste, and Taylor Townsend.
While no official reason has been provided for Coco Gauff’s exclusion, the decision has sparked speculation, especially given her recent Grand Slam success. Gauff’s early Wimbledon departure had already raised questions about her form heading into the latter part of the season, and this latest development adds more uncertainty.
Team USA’s strong lineup heads to Shenzhen
The 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals will feature an eight-nation, knockout-style bracket, with the U.S. team squaring off against Kazakhstan in the opening round. The winner of that clash will face either Great Britain or Japan in the next round.
Despite Gauff’s absence, the American team remains a formidable contender. With Pegula and Keys leading the charge and young talents filling the bench, the U.S. squad will look to capture its 19th Billie Jean King Cup title, further extending its dominance in the event’s history.
A challenging phase for Gauff
For Coco Gauff, this summer marks a rare low point in an otherwise ascending career. After a career-defining win at Roland Garros, her sudden Wimbledon exit and now her exclusion from national duty are unexpected hurdles. However, fans and analysts alike believe the young star will bounce back stronger, as she has proven time and again that she thrives under pressure.