Billie Jean King Cup Finals: Jasmine Paolini’s stellar performance crowned Italy champions

Jasmine Paolini and Lucia Bronzetti spearheaded Italy’s triumph to secure their fifth Billie Jean King Cup title, overcoming Slovakia. A commanding performance by the Italians saw them claim two straight-set victories, leaving no room for the Slovaks to fight back.

In the opening match of the day, Bronzetti dispatched Viktoria Hruncakova 6-2, 6-4, leaving it to World No. 4 Paolini to seal the title. Paolini delivered an emphatic performance against Rebecca Sramkova, winning 6-2, 6-1. Earlier in the tournament, Italy struggled against Japan and Poland, requiring decisive doubles victories to advance, but this time they prevailed with authority.

Bronzetti’s crucial opener

In the first match, Bronzetti delivered a pivotal point for Italy, securing the win in one hour and 23 minutes. Both players started nervously, exchanging early breaks and landing just 50% of their first serves. Bronzetti (ranked No. 278) leaned on her experience to edge past Hruncakova (ranked No. 238) with a 6-4 first set.

The second set saw Hruncakova lead 4-2 but falter as Bronzetti rallied to win the final four games consecutively. The Italian clinched her second victory of this Billie Jean King Cup campaign.

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Paolini seals the title

In the second match, Jasmine Paolini took to the court with the responsibility of delivering the decisive point. Facing an in-form Rebecca Sramkova, who had climbed into the top 50 after a strong end to her season, Paolini showed her class as World No. 4.

The opening set was tightly contested until Paolini broke the deadlock at 2-2, winning six consecutive games to take a commanding 6-2, 2-0 lead. Despite Sramkova earning a break in the third game of the second set, Paolini regained control, winning five consecutive games to close out a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory.

The Italian sealed the title in style, capping off a golden season in which she won an Olympic gold medal in doubles, her first WTA 1000 title, reached Grand Slam finals, and finished the year in the top five.

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