Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini secured Italy’s spot in the Billie Jean King Cup final with a thrilling 7-5, 7-5 doubles victory over Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek.
The win, achieved in Málaga, marks Italy’s second consecutive final appearance in the competition, following their 2023 loss to Canada.
The semi-final tie, which ended 2-1 in Italy’s favour, showcased the resilience of Tathiana Garbin’s team. After splitting the singles matches, it all came down to the deciding doubles clash. Errani and Paolini delivered under pressure, with Errani’s audacious underarm serve on match point proving a pivotal moment. Swiatek’s return went long, sparking jubilant celebrations as the Italian team rushed the court.
Speaking after the match, Errani explained her bold decision: “I feel it and I did it. I just advised Jasmine after the first serve. Playing for our country is always special. I’m proud to be part of this team. It was a special day, and we fought hard.”
The tie was a test of endurance for both teams. Earlier, Paolini and Swiatek battled in an intense singles match lasting over two-and-a-half hours. Swiatek ultimately prevailed 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, levelling the tie after Italy had taken the first singles match.
Italy now awaits the winner of the semi-final between Slovakia and Great Britain, with the final set for Wednesday. The team is determined to seize this opportunity to claim the Billie Jean King Cup title after last year’s disappointment.
