Italy Advances to the Billie Jean King Cup Final for the Third Consecutive Year
SHENZHEN, China – The Italian team, the current champion, secured its place in the Billie Jean King Cup final for the third consecutive time, after coming back and defeating Ukraine with a score of 2-1 in the semifinals held on Friday.
Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, champions of the French Open, were in charge of winning the decisive doubles match against Marta Kostyuk and Lyudmyla Kichenok, with a score of 6-2, 6-3.
In the second set, Kostyuk and Kichenok were leading 3-1 and had a chance to go up 4-2, but they committed a double fault that cost them the point.
Paolini also contributed a victory in the second singles match, coming back from a set down and being 4-2 down against Elina Svitolina, finally managing to win with scores of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Marta Kostyuk had given Ukraine the first point by defeating Elisabetta Cocciaretto with a score of 6-2, 6-3.
Inspired by Paolini’s performance, the Italians will seek their fifth title in the 2024 final, after losing to Canada in the 2023 final.
Ukraine, for its part, played the semifinals for the first time in its history.
The United States and Great Britain will face each other in the second semi-final on Saturday. The United States defeated Kazakhstan in the quarter-finals, while Great Britain eliminated Japan.
Formerly known as the Fed Cup, the Billie Jean King Cup has the United States as the most decorated team, with 18 titles, although they haven’t won since 2017.
