ORLANDO, Fla., June 26, 2023 – The USTA right now introduced that Kathy Rinaldi will step down as U.S. Billie Jean King Cup captain following the 2023 Finals. Rinaldi will stay in her place as USTA Participant Improvement’s Head of Ladies’s Tennis and can proceed main Participant Improvement’s efforts to establish and develop present and future generations of American girls’s champions. The seek for the subsequent captain will start instantly.
Rinaldi was appointed captain of the U.S. workforce in December 2016 and led the U.S. to its document thirty second Billie Jean King Cup title in 2017, the primary U.S. captain since 1986 to win the title of their first 12 months. Moreover, the U.S. workforce underneath Rinaldi reached the ultimate in 2018, the semifinals in 2021 and up to now has produced an 11-5 document in ties.
The U.S. defeated Austria in April’s Qualifiers to advance to this 12 months’s Finals, held November 7-12 in Seville, Spain. The U.S. will compete in Group A alongside defending champion Switzerland and the Czech Republic in hopes of advancing to the knockout semifinals and past.
Kathy Rinaldi, U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Captain and Head of Ladies’s Tennis, USTA:
“Having the distinct function of being named Captain of the U.S. Billie Jean King Cup Staff was one of many biggest honors of my life. It has been an unimaginable experience for six-plus years! I definitely hope I made Billie Jean proud. I’ve a lot love and admiration for her and for her iconic influence on girls in sports activities, and for the influence she and Ilana proceed to have on my life.
“At first, I wish to personally thank each American participant for at all times saying sure once they acquired my name to play, and elevating their hand to signify America. They represented the USA with coronary heart and sophistication! We at all times left all of it on the courtroom whereas having a variety of enjoyable, too. Thanks, gamers, for the chance to be your Captain, and sharing the bench with you! I need each American participant to know the way a lot they’ve impacted my life in such a constructive means. I’ll treasure every of you and the reminiscences we made collectively endlessly!
“I additionally wish to say thanks to all of the followers to your help of our workforce! We felt your love, and it positive was an honor to battle in entrance of you, understanding that you simply have been at all times behind us it doesn’t matter what. We heard you!
“Thanks to my unimaginable USTA Staff & Household, the Coaches, the Efficiency Staff and the employees to your help, love and friendships, and for sure your dedication and tireless laborious work. You encourage me each day!
“Final however definitely not least, I wish to thank my devoted husband and son for his or her continued love and help of me, my profession and my ardour for tennis. I couldn’t do that with out you!
“Although I’m stepping down as Captain, I’m extraordinarily excited to proceed dedicating my effort and time towards supporting our American gamers because the USTA’s Head of Ladies’s Tennis. I’m additionally excited to see what’s subsequent in my journey to influence this most superb sport on a broader scale. Let’s go, USA!”
Stacey Allaster, Chief Government, Skilled Tennis, USTA:
“Kathy has been an unimaginable captain and an inclusive chief on and off the courtroom for our gamers. Her delight and fervour to guide the American workforce was unwavering, and the athletes liked to play for her. We’ve got been lucky to have such a champion lead the Billie Jean King Cup Staff and are equally if no more lucky that Kathy will proceed in her function as Head of Ladies’s Tennis to educate, help and encourage right now’s gamers and our future Billie Jean King Cup workforce members.”
