MALAGA, Spain — Two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini celebrated a remarkable season by steering Italy to its first Billie Jean King Cup title since 2013 on Wednesday. She triumphed over Rebecca Sramkova with a dominating score of 6-2, 6-1, securing a 2-0 victory against Slovakia in the finals of this prestigious women’s team event.
Once Paolini’s victory was sealed, she was welcomed on court by her teammates. Together, they shared joyous embraces before breaking into dance, singing along to the Gypsy Kings’ rendition of “Volare” as it resonated throughout the arena.
Ranked No. 4 in the world, Paolini reached the finals at both the French Open in June and Wimbledon in July, making her the first woman to achieve this feat since Serena Williams in 2016. Remarkably, prior to this successful year, Paolini had never advanced beyond the first or second round in her 16 previous Grand Slam appearances.
“What a year it has been! Truly incredible. To finish with a title is just amazing. No words can capture this feeling. I’m simply savoring every moment,” said Paolini. “I’m so grateful to be in this position, and to be part of such a wonderful team.”
This summer, she also partnered with Sara Errani to claim a gold medal in women’s doubles at the Paris Olympics. Although they were set to compete in the final match against Slovakia, it was unnecessary, as Italy had already won the best-of-three series with two singles victories.
“Jasmine has really elevated her game this year… She sets an example for us all,” praised teammate Lucia Bronzetti, who earned the opening match victory 6-2, 6-4 against Viktoria Hruncakova in front of an audience that included tennis legend and equal rights advocate Billy Jean King.
Bronzetti expressed her honor at competing before the woman for whom the Cup is named, stating, “It’s a privilege to play in front of such a great person and an iconic figure.”
Italy, which eliminated the formidable Iga Swiatek and her Polish team in the semifinals, claimed its fifth championship title after finishing runner-up to Canada the previous year.
“I couldn’t be prouder of my team. Their dedication is inspiring,” Italian captain Tathiana Garbin remarked. “This journey has been truly extraordinary.”
This victory adds to Italy’s impressive recent achievements in tennis, which also includes two Grand Slam titles in 2024 and the No. 1 men’s ranking held by Jannik Sinner, who played a key role in Italy’s Davis Cup success last year. Sinner’s team faces Argentina in the men’s quarterfinals on Thursday.
For the first time ever, both premier International Tennis Federation team events are being held at the same venue. While the men’s matches are hosted in a spacious arena with a capacity of 9,200 seats, the women are competing in a temporary setup that accommodates 4,000 spectators, all under a charming white tent.
Bronzetti had never participated in a BJK Cup singles match before this week. She shared that she only discovered her lineup position against Slovakia late Tuesday night.
“I didn’t get much sleep that night,” Bronzetti confessed.
“It’s different when you’re playing for your team and your country; the pressure is palpable,” she remarked.
Amid chants of her name — “Loo-Chee-Ah! Loo-Chee-Ah!” — complemented by the rhythm of drums and horns from the cheering section, Bronzetti finished strong, clinching the last three games of the first set and the final four consecutive games to seal her victory.
She faced a challenging moment, trailing 4-2, 40-15 in the second set, but managed to turn the tide.
Slovakia, a previous champion in 2002, had navigated a difficult path, eliminating powerhouse teams such as the United States, Australia, and Britain to reach the finals this time around.
