Italy on Monday reached a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup final with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Iga Swiatek’s Poland in Malaga.
Swiatek came from a set down to beat Jasmine Paolini in her singles rubber, but the Italian earned immediate revenge over the five-time Grand Slam winner in the deciding doubles clash.
Paolini and veteran Sara Errani overcame Swiatek and Katarzyna Kawa 7-5, 7-5 to send the four-time champions through to today’s final.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Britain were yesterday to face Slovakia in the second semi-final.
In the opening singles rubber, Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti beat Magda Linette 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).
That was followed by Swiatek’s battle with Paolini, which ran over two-and-a-half hours and saw the Pole win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
“It was tough today ... the intensity was insane, I was a little bit tired, but I said to myself, you still have to play the doubles, you have to give everything for Italy, for my team,” Paolini said. “When I lost the [singles] match I was a little bit sad, but then tried to go in the locker room and think positive about the doubles.”
Poland were in the semi-finals for the first time, but came undone just when it seemed they had done enough for a tie-break, losing the last six games of the final set in the doubles.
“Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired,” Swiatek said.
Linette, the world No. 38, was largely outclassed by Bronzetti, ranked 78th, in the first singles rubber, leaving the pressure on Swiatek to deliver, which she did in thrilling fashion.
Beaten every time in their three prior clashes and having never taken a set off Swiatek, Paolini battled with fierce determination from the outset.
Swiatek crushed the world No. 4 in straight sets in the French Open final earlier this year, but found a vastly tougher opponent in Malaga.
Swiatek spurned three break points in the final game and showed signs of tiredness after helping Poland reach the semi-finals by winning both her singles match and a doubles rubber against the Czech Republic.
Paolini had done the same for last year’s runners-up Italy against Japan, but dug deep to keep Swiatek at bay until the 10th and final game of the second set, which the Pole won to force a third. After the players exchanged breaks in the decider, Swiatek eventually triumphed when Paolini went long.
“For sure it was tough, my energy level was down in the second set, but I managed to get back and that was the most important thing,” Swiatek said, adding that she had “no time to celebrate” as the job was not done yet.
In the doubles decider, the relentless Italians fought back in a stunning fashion by winning the last six games straight, sealing the victory when Swiatek overhit a forehand.
“It was not easy, it was a really long day, I didn’t start the doubles that well ... but then I found the way, I think we played a really good match,” Errani said.
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