Paolini/Errani win deciding doubles to complete Italian victory over Poland in BJK Cup semis
Iga Swiatek and Lucia Bronzetti won their singles matches to send the semi-final into a deciding doubles which the Italians won in straight sets
Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, Roland-Garros 2024
Image Credit: Zuma / Panoramic
Italy is through to the final of the Billie Jean King Cup Finals for the second year in a row and the seventh time overall after Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani defeated Iga Swiatek and Katarzyna Kawa in the third and deciding rubber of their semi-final clash.
Paolini and Errani, who had won the Olympic gold medal in women’s doubles this year, saved three set points in the first set and then came from 5-1 down to win six games in a row in the second to complete the 7-5, 7-5 win.
Errani, a former top 5 player in singles, served an underarm serve on matchpoint to give the Italians the 2-1 win after Poland’s Iga Swiatek and Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti won their singles rubbers earlier in the day.
For the title, Italy will face either Great Britain or Slovakia, who meet in the second semi-final on Tuesday.
In the first match of the tie, Bronzetti gave Italy the lead with a 6-4, 7-6 (3) win over Magda Linette but Swiatek fought brilliantly to level the tie, beating Paolini – in a repeat of their French Open final – 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a two-hour, 36 -minute battle with the Pole saving 13 break points in all.
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