Defending champion Italy came from behind to beat Ukraine in the semi -final on Friday and to go to the final for a 3rd consecutive year on a dramatic day on the Billie Jean Jean King Cup 2025 by Ginbridge Finals in Shenzhen.
It was great, really great. I don’t know how I turned this competition, but I did it. I stayed there on all points. This time I might have been more lucky than she was. The last time [at Roland Garros] I lost with Match Point. It’s tennis, it happens. This time I am happy that I stayed there and I tried to find a solution to beat her. I think she is a very great player, a strong player. Every time it is a fight against her. Jasmine Paolini
The Marta Kostyuk van Ukraine came to the victory against Elisabetta Cocciaretto to place Ukraine 1-0, and Elina Svitolina went a set and a break in her match against Jasmine Paolini to leave the Ukrainian on the edge of a first performance in the Bjk Cup-Finale.
However, Paolini fought back to keep the Italian hope alive, recovering to beat Svitolina in 3 sets, sent the draw in the decisive Doublesrubber, in which she was accompanied by her regular double partner Sara Errani, with a Straight-Sets victory against Kostyuk of Sunday.
Errani & Paolini proved too much for the Ukrainians and won until 6-2 6-3 to become the first nation that since the Czech Republic in 2016 reached 3 consecutive Billie Jean King Cup finals.
“It’s an incredible moment,” said Captain Tathiana Garin, Italy. “The girls have shown how to fight, how you can give your heart for your country and be proud to be in the final. They have shown real unit.
“I like to have these girls with me. They fight for every ball and every time they wear the national jacket, they put extra on the field. It is a historic moment for Italian tennis. Today they showed how strong they are when they have a dream.”
Marta Kostyuk placed Ukraine 1-0 with an emphatic victory against Elisabetta Cocciasto
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In the opening match Singles Overstrof Kostyuk Cocciakto, 6-2 6-3, to win her 10th Billie Jean King Cup-Singles match in 13 outings and to make Ukraine forward.
A break from Serve in the opening match Kostyuk immediately gave an advantage and repeated the feat 4 games later to claim the first set in just 41 minutes.
The Ukrainian showed the same power in the second, which was inevitably a bit closer, but the 23-year-old had more than enough control over to dismiss her nation in a power position.
Jasmine Paolini came back from the edge to keep the hope of Italy on Friday in the semi -final of the BJK Cup, when she defeated Elina Svitolina in 3 sets
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Svitolina, De Wereld No. 3, followed with the same balance and determination, and for long periods everything pointed to a Ukrainian triumph, but the unstoppable 29-year-old Paolini attracted the defensive champions level by winning the victory of the jaws of the defeat.
Earlier, Svitolina had wasted the chance to give her country an indisputable 2-0 lead in the draw and the possibility to fight for their first trophy on Sunday after she went 3-6 6-4 6-4 to an inspired Paolini.
The 31-year-old Ukrainian broke the Italian in the 3rd game of their match with a number of aggressive touch from the basic line, and took the opening set with a sizzling backhand winner to leave 5-time champions Italy on the ropes.
Paolini responded by breaking early in the second set, but Svitolina took control from there and was a point of a 5-2 advantage before he lost her way again with a flurry of non-characteristic mistakes to give up the set.
After he had leveled the collision, Paolini fidded fiercely to hold an 8-sex game early in the decision-maker and continued 4-2 before Svitolina clawed his way back, but the determined Italian would not be refused because she raised her level again to prevail.
The unstoppable Jasmine Paolini led on Friday the victory of Italy over Ukraine
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Paolini, who won Olympic Gold -Cooperation last year in Paris and the French Open Doubles title in June, said she was sure that she was on her way to the decisive match, despite playing 2 hours and 25 minutes.
“We have played double together for the past two years, more or less every tournament,” said Paolini.
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“It was great, really great,” said Paolini. “I don’t know how I turned this match, but I did it. I stayed there on all points. This time I was lucky than them, maybe. The last time [at Roland Garros] I lost with Match Point.
“It is tennis, it happens. This time I am happy that I stayed there, and I tried to find a solution to defeat her. I think she is a very great player, a strong player. Every time it is a fight against her.
“I have to thank the bank – the captain and everyone who was there tried to push me through the game. I am really happy that we were able to win this draw.”
The semi -final of BJK Cup came down to the doubles between Lyudmyla Kichenok & Marta Kostyuk van Ukraine and Sara Errani & Jasmine Paolini from Italy
© Lintao Zhang/Getty images for Billie Jean King Cup
The triumph of Errani & Paolini in the doubles at the expense of Trailing Ukraine has again made them the toast of Italy.
Opposite Kostyuk & Kichenok they broke early for a 3-0 lead before they pay off their greater experience the first set, 6-2.
Although the Ukrainians jumped in the second with 3-1, the Italians took 5 consecutive games to complete the victory for the extensive crowd of Italian fans, who stayed on their seats until almost midnight in southeastern China.
“Today the audience was great. We had the support of all these guys, the Italian fans. We enjoyed many games in this competition,” Errani said. “It was a tough day for Jasmine. She does an incredible job. It is not easy to play double after a heavy singles match, but she is so strong.
‘I am really happy that she has her as my double partner.
“It’s good to be in the Billie Jean King Cup. We like to play a lot and we enjoy playing in this competition. She has won this competition four times. She loves the tournament.
“I have to thank the team for supporting us … and also the fans. They were great.
“We just want to enjoy the final on Sunday. It’s great to play this competition. The expectation I have is that all fans will come back and encourage us.”
The next one for Italy is the United States, which will look for a record-expanding 19th title in the event that was previously called the Fed Cup, or 4 times Second Great Britain, with those two teams who play the other semi-final on Saturday.
Day 4 results
Italy beat Ukraine 2-1
- Marta Kostyuk (Okr) d. Elisabetta Cocciakto (ITA) 6-2 6-3
- Jasmine Paolini (now) d. Elina Svitolina (OKR) 3-6 6-4 6-4
- Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini (Ita) D. Lyudmyla Kichenok/Marta Kostyuk (UKR) 6-2 6-3
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