USA vs Kazakhstan BJK Cup Prediction 9/17/2025 Today’s Tennis Picks

18-time champions the USA will face Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen, China. The tie is scheduled to take place on Wednesday (EDT time), September 17. Here’s our USA vs Kazakhstan prediction. This preview will also include a USA vs Kazakhstan pick.

USA vs Kazakhstan Billie Jean King Cup Preview

The USA are hunting a record-extending 19th title at this year’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals. They are set to face Kazakhstan in a crucial quarterfinal tie. Last year, Lindsay Davenport’s side was knocked out by minnows Slovakia, who went all the way to the final. This year, Davenport has rung the changes.

Coco Gauff misses out yet again, and Madison Keys withdrew from the tournament, thereby giving McCartney Kessler a place in the team that their current highest-ranked singles player and World No. 7 Jessica Pegula, who will get the nod to face Rybakina. Emma Navarro and Hailey Baptiste will most likely compete to play the second singles match, while Taylor Townsend is the doubles No. 1.

Kazakhstan has never won the Billie Jean King Cup, but can take heart from the fact that the underdogs tend to pull off surprises in this competition, with Slovakia proving that claim last year when they defeated the heavyweights to make the final.

Yuriy Schukin is the country’s team captain and has nominated some experienced and established names. Their most prominent player is Elena Rybakina, who won Wimbledon three years ago and is comfortably Kazakhstan’s best-ever player. Yulia Putintseva is also recalled, while Zarina Diyas, Anna Danilina, and Zhibek Kulambayeva are also part of the team.

USA vs Kazakhstan Billie Jean King Cup Finals Head-To-Head

The USA and Kazakhstan have never met in this competition. At last year’s finals in Malaga, the USA lost to Slovakia 2-1 in the knock-out phase, while Kazakhstan missed out on the event.

USA vs Kazakhstan Billie Jean King Cup Finals Prediction

The USA start as the heavy favorites at -250, but the 18-time champions have a tricky tie to navigate if they are to go all the way to the finals. Despite being the most successful team in the Billie Jean King Cup history, they haven’t won this competition since 2017. I’m backing the Kazakhs to cause a massive upset. If Rybakina can secure the first point in the tie by beating Pegula, the USA will be under immense pressure. Putinseva could end up facing an out-of-form Emma Navarro in the other singles rubber. Do not rule out a decisive rubber to settle this tie, but after last year’s shock elimination to Slovakia, the USA could face another early exit.