Madison Keys has withdrawn from the 2023 Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Finals scheduled to take place next week in Seville, Spain. Her replacement in the United States Billie Jean King Cup Team will be Peyton Stearns, who will compete alongside Sloane Stephens, Danielle Collins, Sofia Kenin, and Taylor Townsend.
Stearns, 22, won the NCAA singles and team championships in 2022 at the University of Texas. She reached her first WTA singles final this April in Bogota and rose to a career-high ranking of No.43 in September. She is currently ranked No.48. This is her debut Billie Jean King Cup nomination.
The Americans begin their Finals campaign in Seville on Thursday, November 9, with a Group-stage matchup vs. Switzerland, at 4 p.m. local time, and conclude Group play vs. the Czech Republic on Friday, November 10, at 4 p.m. local time. The Group winner of those three nations will advance to Saturday’s semifinals. The championship tie is Sunday, November 12.
Why did Madison Keys pull out of the Billy Jean King Cup finals in Seville Spain?
George Hafner, even though the USTA didn’t cite the reason in the press release, the most likely cause is that Madison is too tired after playing the WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai last week, where she lost both of her group matches and got eliminated.