Jasmine Paolini’s Italy reached their second successive Billie Jean King Cup ultimate with a 2-1 victory over Poland, who had been given a glimmer of hope by five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
World quantity 4 Paolini and her team-mate Sara Errani clinched the deciding doubles 7-5 7-5 in opposition to Swiatek and Katarzyna Kawa after a rare second-set comeback in Malaga.
Twelve months in the past, four-time champions Italy have been overwhelmed within the BJK Cup ultimate by Canada.
They may uncover their 2024 ultimate opponents on Tuesday, when Nice Britain tackle Slovakia within the second semi-final (11:00 GMT).
“It was powerful immediately,” mentioned 28-year-old Paolini. “The depth was insane.
“You must give the whole lot for Italy, for my group. I discovered the power and I am actually completely happy.”
World quantity 78 Lucia Bronzetti was the primary to strike for Italy, defeating Poland’s Magda Linette – ranked 40 locations increased – in straight units.
Her 6-4 7-6 (7-3) victory laid the trail for Paolini, who was bidding to beat Swiatek for the primary time.
However whereas Paolini received the opening set, her first in 4 conferences with the Polish world quantity two, Swiatek prevailed 3-6 6-4 6-4 to ship the tie to a decider.
Paolini and Errani, who received Olympic doubles gold collectively in Paris this summer season, saved three set factors earlier than breaking the Poles’ serve after which clinching the opener.
After being damaged within the first recreation of the second set, Swiatek and Kawa received 5 consecutive video games for a 5-1 lead. A match tie-break regarded sure, however the Italians had different concepts.
They too reeled off 5 video games for the possibility to serve for the match, and with it, a spot within the ultimate.
They did so on the first alternative, cueing enormous celebrations from the group in blue.
The 2024 BJK Cup champions can be topped on Wednesday night time, with the ultimate getting beneath manner at 16:00 GMT.
