Italy has successfully defended their Billie Jean King Cup title. After winning 2-0 over Slovakia last year in Malaga, Spain, Italy defeated the United States 2-0 in the best of three final in Shenzhen, China on Sunday. This was actually the third straight year that Italy was in the Billie Jean King Cup Final. In 2023, they were upset by Canada in Seville, Spain.
The Italians were led by Jasmine Paolini of Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Italy, and Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Ancona. Paolini, is the 2024 French Open and 2024 Wimbledon finalist, and ranked eighth in the world. Cocciaretto is ranked 91st.
It was simply a breakout week for Cocciaretto. She defeated China’s Yue Yuan 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the quarterfinal tie, and then stunned 2024 United States Open semifinalist Emma Navarro of New York City, New York 6-4, 6-4 in the final.
Meanwhile, it was a superb weekend of tennis for Paolini. She defeated Xinyu Wang of China 4-6, 7-6, 6-4 in the quarterfinals, Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals, teamed up with Sara Errani in doubles to beat Lyudmyla Kichenok and Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, 6-2, 6-3, and then beat Jessica Pegula of the United States of Buffalo, New York, 6-4, 6-2.
This was the sixth time Italy has won the Billie Jean King Cup (previously known as the Federation Cup). They previously won in 2006 over Belgium 3-2, in 2009 over the United States 4-0, in 2010 over the United States 3-1, in 2013 over Russia 4-0, and last year over Slovakia. Some of the other Italian stars in Billie Jean King Cup finals in years past were Francesca Schiavone (2010 French Open champion), Mara Santangelo, Roberta Vinci (2015 United States Open finalist), Flavia Pennetta (2015 United States Open champion), and Lucia Bronzetti.
