SHENZHEN, China — In a thrilling showdown, defending champions Italy secured their spot in the Billie Jean King Cup final for the third consecutive year, rallying from behind to defeat Ukraine 2-1 in the semifinals on Friday.
The dynamic duo of French Open winners, Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, clinched the pivotal doubles match against the Ukrainian pair of Marta Kostyuk and Lyudmyla Kichenok with a score of 6-2, 6-3. The Ukrainian team initially took a 3-1 lead in the second set and even had a chance to extend their advantage to 4-2, but a crucial double fault changed the tide.
Paolini showcased her resilience by coming back from a set and 4-2 down against Elina Svitolina, ultimately winning 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in her singles match—earning her second point for the team.
Kostyuk set the tone for Ukraine, delivering a strong start with a commanding victory over Elisabetta Cocciaretto, finishing 6-2, 6-3.
Motivated by Paolini’s performance, the Italians are now poised to face Slovakia in the final for a chance at their fifth title, having previously lost to Canada in the 2023 finals.
This marks Ukraine’s first appearance in the semifinals of the tournament, a significant milestone for the team.
In the second semifinal, set to take place on Saturday, the United States will go up against Britain. The U.S. advanced by defeating Kazakhstan in the quarterfinals, while Britain eliminated Japan from contention.
The BJK Cup, formerly recognized as the Fed Cup, has seen the United States emerge as the most successful nation with 18 titles—though they last claimed victory in 2017.
