Italy Advances to the Billie Jean King Cup Final for the Third Consecutive Year
SHENZHEN, China – The Italian team, defending champion, secured their place in the Billie Jean King Cup final for the third consecutive year, after coming back and defeating Ukraine 2-1 in the semi-finals held this Friday.
The duo formed by Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, both Roland Garros champions, won 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 took a 3-1 lead and had a chance to go up 4-2, but they committed a double fault that cost them the point.
This triumph was the second point achieved by Paolini, who had previously come back from a set down and a 4-2 in the second set against Elina Svitolina, achieving victory with partials of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the second singles match.
Marta Kostyuk had given Ukraine the initial advantage 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 having lost against Canada in the 2023 final.
Ukraine, for its part, was playing the semi-finals for the first time in its history.
The United States and Great Britain will face each other in the second semifinal on Saturday.
