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 year after coming back and defeating Ukraine 2-1 in the semifinals held on Friday.
The duo composed of Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, both Roland Garros champions, was key to the victory. Errani and Paolini prevailed in 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 led 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 crucial point in singles, where she came back to beat Elina Svitolina with scores of 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, after being a set and 4-2 down.
Marta Kostyuk had given Ukraine a good start by defeating Elisabetta Cocciaretto with a score of 6-2, 6-3.
Driven by Paolini’s performance, the Italians will seek their fifth title in the 2024 final, after falling to Canada in the 2023 final.
Ukraine, for its part, participated in the semi-finals for the first time in its history.
The other semi-final, which will pit the United States against Great Britain, will be played on Saturday.
