Jasmine Paolini of Italy during her singles match against Poland's Iga Swiatek in their Billie Jean King Cup clash. MALAGA – Jasmine Paolini “gave everything” for Italy on Nov 18, and it paid off for her on a tough day. The Italians reached a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Iga Swiatek’s Poland in Malaga, much thanks to Paolini’s determination.
Swiatek came from a set down to beat the Italian in her singles rubber but the latter earned immediate revenge over the five-time Grand Slam winner in the deciding doubles clash. Paolini and veteran Sara Errani overcame Swiatek and Katarzyna Kawa 7-5, 7-5 to send the four-time champions through to the final on Nov 20, where they will face Britain or Slovakia. In the opening singles rubber, Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti beat Magda Linette 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).
That was followed by Swiatek’s battle with Paolini, which ran over 21⁄2 hours and saw the Pole win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. “It was tough today..
. the intensity was insane, I was a little bit tired but I said to myself, you still have to play the doubles, you have to give everything for Italy, for my team,” said Paolini. “When I lost the (singles) match I was a little bit sad, but then I tried to go in the locker room and think positive about the doubles.
” Poland were in the semi-finals for the first time but came undone just when it seemed they had done enough for a tie-break, losing the last six games of the final set in the doubl.
