Italy claimed their first Billie Jean King Cup title in 11 years as Jasmine Paolini wrapped up a 2-0 win over Slovakia in Malaga.
Paolini, who has loved a breakthrough 2024 season, was a part of the Italian group that completed runners-up to Canada 12 months in the past.
The world quantity 4 received 6-2 6-1 towards Rebecca Sramkova after Lucia Bronzetti had put Italy forward with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Viktoria Hruncakova within the first singles match.
“I all the time dreamed about this trophy,” mentioned Bronzetti, who was enjoying simply her second singles match within the competitors.
“We’re the world champions, we might be a lot happier. It’s a dream of all of ours and we’re so proud.”
Italy, who will earn $2.4m (£1.9m) in prize cash for successful their fifth title, have develop into a tennis powerhouse just lately, with the boys’s group – led by world primary Jannik Sinner – successful its first Davis Cup in 47 years in 2023.
“I feel it is an unbelievable 12 months for Italian tennis and it is so good for our sport in our nation,” Paolini instructed reporters.
“We have now plenty of followers of tennis in Italy now, tennis is rising lots.”
Captain Tathiana Garbin mentioned: “It is a dream come true. I’ve such nice champions, nice gamers, and nice human beings.
“I’m so happy with them. They struggle each day.”
Slovakia, who knocked Great Britain out on Tuesday, had been enjoying of their first closing since they received the event in 2002.
