Italy has successfully defended its title in the Billie Jean King Cup, triumphing over the United States with a convincing 2-0 victory in Shenzhen, China. This remarkable win marked Italy’s sixth championship in this prestigious tournament, solidifying their status in a competition historically dominated by the Americans.
Tathiana Garbin, captain of the Italian team, expressed her pride in the players’ performance, praising their passion and determination. “All of them are a big part of the history,” she remarked, reflecting on their journey through the tournament.
Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Jasmine Paolini delivered impressive straight-set victories, overcoming their higher-ranked American adversaries to secure the title for Italy for the consecutive year. This triumph continues a streak where Italy has bested the U.S. in their last six meetings despite having lost the first nine encounters.
Cocciaretto opened the day against Emma Navarro, the world No. 18, and gave Italy an early advantage with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-4. Despite being unbeaten in the Shenzhen tournament, Navarro found herself under pressure as Cocciaretto broke serve in the opening game and held on to lead throughout. When Navarro gained a break to lead 4-2 in the second set, Cocciaretto responded with an impressive rally, winning four consecutive games to clinch her victory in an hour and 29 minutes.
“It was an unbelievable match for me! I knew I had to play my best tennis,” said Cocciaretto, delighted to contribute to the team’s success.
The spotlight then shifted to Paolini, who faced Jessica Pegula, ranked seventh in the world. Previously on the losing side in her five encounters with Pegula, Paolini turned the tide with strategic play, securing a dominant 6-4, 6-2 victory to seal the championship for Italy. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” she said, acknowledging the challenge but expressing immense pride in her team’s accomplishment.
Throughout the tournament, Paolini consistently outperformed her opponents, winning all her singles matches and partnering with Sara Errani for a crucial doubles win against Ukraine in the semi-finals. With this latest victory, she has won eight of her last nine matches in the Billie Jean King Cup.
After the final, the Italian team was celebrated on court, receiving the prestigious Billie Jean King Cup trophy from ITF President David Haggerty and the legendary Billie Jean King herself. Each team member was awarded a “Billie Blue” jacket, a distinctive symbol of their achievement, designed by Tory Burch.
Italy now ranks fourth in the all-time list of Billie Jean King Cup titles, with only the United States, Czechia, and Australia ahead of them. This win also marks the first time since Czechia managed back-to-back titles between 2014 and 2016.
For the USA, this final marked their first appearance since 2018 and the disappointment was palpable. World No. 7 Pegula acknowledged the joy of competing together but lamented the outcome. “It just wasn’t our day today,” she stated. Captain Lindsay Davenport echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the enjoyment of their time in Shenzhen, despite the final result.
Final Match Summary:
Italy defeated the USA 2-0
– Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) d. Emma Navarro (USA) 6-4, 6-4
– Jasmine Paolini (ITA) d. Jessica Pegula (USA) 6-4, 6-2
With this decisive win, Italy not only retains its title but also cements its place in the annals of tennis history, showcasing a promising future for the Italian squad in the international arena.
