An inspired Italy successfully defended their Billie Jean King Cup with a 2-0 win over Record 18-way champions The United States on Sunday and took their own count in the Premier Women’s Team Competition to Six Titles.
Elisabetta Cocciakto and Jasmine Paolini both won their singles competitions to help their country Triumph in Shenzhen and extended the American waiting time for a different title after their earlier success in 2017.
“It has really been a great week and it is always great to play in this competition … I just want to thank everyone, it was incredible,” said a radiant Paolini.
“It was so difficult, this year we played great teams, they are very strong and today we did not expect to win against the United States, so we are really happy with this victory.
“I don’t know, it is even more special this year than last year. It’s different, but to be honest I didn’t expect it.”
World No. 8 Paolini’s 6-4, 6-2 victory was her first victory in her sixth collision with Jessica Pegula and helped Italy to be the first team that has captured back-to-back titles since the Czech Republic lifted three straight trophies of 2014-16.
The 29-year-old set up a tight first set by firing a backhand rocket that broke the seventh arranged Pegula’s Serve and came from an early break in the next set to suppress the challenge of her American opponent after a late Wiebel.
She celebrated her victory by lifting her arms and joined her team in dancing in the center of Blue Court to roaring applause from largely Italian and Chinese fans.
Earlier, Cocciasto made Italy shot out of the blocks by hitting world number 18 Emma Navarro 6-4 6-4, with the 24-year-old finish in style by winning a breathtaking rally on match point.
“It was an incredible game for me,” said World Number 91 Cocciasto, who fought from 2-4 in the second set to pass her opponent in 89 minutes in a full Shenzhen Bay Sports Center-Arena.
“I knew that she is really a great player and I had to play my best tennis … I am really happy with the performance and the point I gave to Italy.”
The sixth Billie Jean Jean King Cup title of Italy comes in the midst of a golden enchantment for the country, where the men’s team claims that the previous two Davis Cup trophies and their players enjoy success on the Grand Slam and Olympic level.
#Cocciasto #Paolini #Italy #defeat #United #States #preserve #Billie #Jean #King #Cup