The USTA has announced that Kathy Rinaldi will step down as the captain of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team after the 2023 Finals. Rinaldi will maintain her position as Head of Women’s Tennis at USTA Player Development, focusing on identifying and nurturing the next generation of American women’s tennis champions.
Appointed in December 2016, Rinaldi guided the U.S. team to their 32nd Billie Jean King Cup title in 2017, becoming the first captain since 1986 to achieve this feat in their inaugural year. Under her leadership, the U.S. team reached the final in 2018, the semifinals in 2021, and holds an 11-5 record in ties.
Following their victory against Austria in the April Qualifiers, the U.S. team is gearing up for the upcoming Finals scheduled for November 7-12 in Seville, Spain. Competing in Group A alongside defending champion Switzerland and the Czech Republic, the U.S. aims to secure a spot in the knockout semifinals and beyond.
Approaching the closure of the Billie Jean King Cup chapter in her career, Rinaldi said:
Having the distinct role of being named captain of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup team was one of the greatest honors of my life. It has been an incredible ride for six-plus years! I certainly hope I made Billie Jean proud. I have so much love and admiration for her and for her iconic impact on women in sports, and for the impact she and Ilana continue to have on my life.
First and foremost, I want to personally thank each and every American player for always saying yes when they got my call to play, and raising their hand to represent America. They represented the USA with heart and class! We always left it all on the court while having a lot of fun, too. Thank you, players, for the opportunity to be your captain, and sharing the bench with you! I want each and every American player to know how much they have impacted my life in such a positive way. I will treasure each of you and the memories we made together forever!
The search for a new captain will commence immediately.
