Italy is in the final again

Italy is in the final of the Billie Jean King Cup (formerly Fed Cup) for the second time in a row after a tough fight in the semifinals against Poland.

19 November 2024

From: dpa

The Olympic doubles champions Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini secured a 1-1 victory over Poland on Monday with the score at 2-1. Errani/Paolini defeated the duo Iga Swiatek/Katarzyna Kawa 7-5,7-5. Swiatek had previously equalized with a laborious 3-6,6-4,6-4 victory over Paolini.

This meant that the world number two Swiatek was denied her first place in the final of the traditional women's team competition, as Poland had reached the semi-finals of the BJK Cup for the first time. Italy, on the other hand, has the chance to win its fifth title on Wednesday after 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013. Their opponents will be decided on Tuesday between Slovakia and Great Britain.

"It was tough, the intensity was crazy. I was so tired, but I had to give everything for my team and my country," said Paolini. The doubles match was also closer than it seems: In the first set, the Italians fended off three set balls, in the second they recovered from a 1:5 deficit. Italy is in the final for the seventh time in total, losing to Canada in the final last year.