Italy defended successfully Billie Jean King Cup Crown on Sunday in Shenzhen, sealing the title with a commander 2-0 win over the United States. The Italian team was anchored by the reliable game of Elisabetta Cocciaketto And Jasmine PaoliniThose directly established victories in the Singles Rubbers achieved to secure the second consecutive triumph of the nation in the competition.
Americans Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro had mounted gritty comebacks in the semi -final against Great -Britain, which destroyed early deficits to push their team into the championship round. However, they found no way due to the ruthless energy and consistency of the Italians.
World No. 91 Cocciakerto set the tone for the ruling champions and defeated Navarro 6-4 6-4 in the opening match in the Shenzhen Bay Sports Center Arena. World No. 8 Paolini then delivered the decisive blow with a convincing 6-4 6-2 victory in seventh rank Pegula.
After the final, Navarro praised the aggressive style of Cocciasto and acknowledged how difficult it was to find the breathing space in their meetings. “She is cool. She plays exactly on the baseline and rushes you as much as possible.
Pegula thought about her missed opportunities in the opening set against Paolini, and admitted that it turned out that non -capitalization turned out to be decisive. “I felt that in the first most of the set I had the feeling that I had the lead a bit,” the American said. “But it is tennis and unfortunately that does not always mean that you win the set.”
The victory marked the third consecutive performance of Italy in the final and the sixth Billie Jean King Cup title in general. Before the United States, second place represented its deepest run in the competition since 2018. The American team will then participate in a home-and-road qualification in 2026 against an opponent and at a location to be determined.
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