MALAGA (Spain), Nov 19 — Italy reached a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Iga Swiatek’s Poland yesterday in Malaga. Swiatek came from a set down to beat Jasmine Paolini in her singles rubber but the Italian 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 tomorrow’s final.
Great Britain face Slovakia in the second semi-final today. 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 two-and-a-half 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 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 doubles.
“Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired,” said Swiatek. Linette, the world number 38, was largely outclassed by Bronzetti, ranked 78th, in the first singles rubber. At 4-1 down in the secon.
