Malaga | Italy clinch fifth BJK Cup title with emphatic win over Slovakia

The 2024 Billie Jean King Cup title by Gainbridge was clinched by Italy, 2-0, on Wednesday after Jasmine Paolini out-classed Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova, 6-2 6-1, main her group to it’s first victory in over a decade, because the nation’s final championship win in 2013.

Unbelievable, a loopy yr. To complete like this, a title at Billie Jean King Cup, it’s superb. I don’t have phrases to explain it. I’m making an attempt simply to take pleasure in each second. It’s necessary to grasp the place you might be, I really feel fortunate to be on this place, on this group. I feel we performed unbelievable this week. Jasmine Paolini

Italy grew to become the sixth nation to carry the trophy on 5 or extra events after capping an excellent week in Malaga, having accomplished a come-back to defeat Japan 2-1 within the quarter-finals on Saturday, after which narrowly beating Poland in a decent semi-final, once more 2-1, on Monday, earlier than triumphing within the last.

Actually, the important thing second of Italy’s title run got here within the first set of the doubles match towards Poland, when World No 2 Iga Swiatek & Katarzyna Kawa held 3 set factors, however Sara Errani’s impressed web play helped erase all of them.

Italy ultimately took the primary set 7-5 and, after successful the final 6 video games of the match, the second by the identical rating.

“Enjoying prior to now, was perhaps nervous,” Errani stated, making some extent to thank Captain Tathiana Garbin for choosing her to the group. “This time, I used to be not that a lot nervous. Was very particular to win this title with them.”

A yr in the past, it was Italy that had ended Slovakia’s BJK Cup hopes, and, final November, the Slovakian group cleared the primary hurdle for 2024, defeating Argentina on the energy of two Viktoria Hruncakova singles wins, whereas, in April, they beat Slovenia 4-0 to advance to the Finals.

Slovakia was spectacular in Spain, upsetting the US, Australia and, within the semi-finals, Nice Britain, with Sramkova successful all 3 of her singles matches, and the group arrived within the last searching for its 2nd BJK Cup title.

“All my women can be legends now,” Slovakia’s captain Matej Liptak stated. “Even when they don’t end it tomorrow, this can be a actually particular second for them, and for our nation. Everybody will know who was on this group.”

Italy, although, went one higher on the occasion than they did final yr, once they completed runner-up to first-time champions Canada.

It was additionally their second straight win over Slovakia, whom they ousted within the qualifying rounds final yr.

© Fran Santiago/Getty Photos for ITF

Lucia Bronzetti gained Wednesday’s opener for Italy with a 6-2 6-4 rating towards Hruncakova in entrance of a crowd that included Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Famer and equal rights pioneer Billie Jean King herself.

“It’s actually a dream come true,” Captain Garbin stated on court docket. “I’ve such nice champions, nice gamers, however largely, nice human beings. I’m so pleased with them, they struggle every single day.”

The opening set was pretty routine for Bronzetti, who transformed 3 of her 5 break factors in that body, however Hruncakova made issues nearer within the second, combating again from an early break down to guide 4-2, 40-15, just for the Italian to amp up her returns when she wanted to, successful the final 4 video games in a row to prevail after 81 minutes.

“It was not simple, as a result of we’re within the last, so each match is hard, however I’m very pleased to deliver this level to Italy,” Bronzetti stated on court docket after her win. “All of us need this trophy, and it’s our dream, all Italians.”

It set the stage for World No 4 Paolini, who has risen into the highest echelon of the ladies’s sport this yr after reaching the Roland Garros and Wimbledon finals, successful the WTA  in 1000 Dubai, and taking the Olympic gold medal in doubles together with her BJK Cup teammate Errani.

Sramkova has additionally had a break-through yr, successful her first WTA singles title and reaching 2 different finals within the final 2 months as she sits at her career-high rating of 43.

Group Italy take a selfie with the trophy after successful the Billie Jean King Cup Finals

© Thomas Coex/AFP through Getty Photos

After an in depth begin to the 2nd singles rubber, Paolini took management halfway by means of the opener and by no means let up, together with her fiery forehands incomes her the primary break at 4-2, earlier than she slammed a pinpoint backhand into the nook to maneuver 5-2 forward.

All informed, Paolini gained 6 straight video games to guide 6-2, 2-0, and solely within the following sport did Sramkova get her sole break of the day with a successful backhand down the road.

It proved only a minor blip for Paolini, who recovered her large forehand to romp by means of the remainder of the match.

“Unbelievable, a loopy yr,” a jubilant Paolini stated afterwards. “To complete like this, a title at Billie Jean King Cup, it’s superb. I don’t have phrases to explain it. I’m making an attempt simply to take pleasure in each second. It’s necessary to grasp the place you might be, I really feel fortunate to be on this place, on this group. I feel we performed unbelievable this week.

“At present I used to be repeating to myself you’re going to offer one hundred pc. If we win we win, in case you lose we settle for that. I struggle for each ball.

“I feel from the tip of final yr, I began to play higher and higher. I feel additionally the Billie Jean King Cup final yr, enjoying within the last, it was an enormous end result for us. I feel it helped me, I gained massive matches.

“Earlier than the final yr, I wasn’t actually assured about enjoying on this competitors. I used to be feeling the stress and it was not simple for me to regulate, with so many individuals round on the bench, however final yr I lastly acquired used to it and tried to see the optimistic facet, that I had a lot assist – and it labored.”

Paolini completed final season ranked at No 30 within the WTA Rankings, together with her performances within the Billie Jean King Cup firing Italy to the ultimate towards Canada.

She then misplaced to an impressed Leylah Fernandez because the Canadians swept to victory within the last in Seville, and again then, the skilled Paolini couldn’t have imagined what was coming subsequent in her profession.

She was the runner-up on the French Open in June and at Wimbledon in July, making her the primary girl since Serena Williams in 2016 to get to the title matches at Roland Garros and the All England Membership in the identical season.

Earlier than this yr, Paolini, who’s 28, had misplaced within the 1st or 2nd spherical in all 16 profession appearances on the majors.

She additionally teamed with Errani to win a doubles Gold medal on the Paris Olympics in August, and so they had been lined as much as play within the concluding match towards Slovakia, nevertheless it wasn’t wanted as a result of Italy clinched the best-of-three collection by sweeping the 2 singles matches.

As she held her arms aloft after successful the ultimate level of her match towards Sramkova, Paolini’s dream yr had it’s good ending.

She additionally certified for the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia, bringing her whole prize cash for this yr to $5,024,205, a far cry from the $2,649,189 in whole profession prize cash she had made up till that time this yr.

Now Paolini will add a share of the $2.4m prize cash pot that can be shared by the 5 members of the Italy group.

Jasmine Paolini led Group Italy to the title win and is their talisman

© Jorge Guerrero/AFP through Getty Photos

There have been jubilant celebrations amongst Italy’s gamers, workers and supporters, whereas the group obtained the  joint-record $2.4 million winners’ cheque, which was offered by Mike Nichols, Chief of Sponsorship Technique and Activation at Gainbridge.

Because of the title sponsor’s partnership and assist, the 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals provided a complete Participant Prize Cash (PPM) purse of $9.6 million, which is equal to the entire on supply to male gamers within the Davis Cup Finals this week.

The brand new champions additionally had been offered with a particular version Billie Blue jacket every, designed by match world companion, Tory Burch.

Each Italy’s men and women’s groups are present World Champions, with Filippo Volandri’s group gearing as much as defend their Davis Cup title on the Last 8 in Malaga from 21 November.

Paolini is now Group Italy’s talisman, her ardour to succeed driving her to the highest.

“I began to play tennis after I was 5, and I fell in love with the game,” she stated. “It’s a protracted journey. I used to be not dreaming an excessive amount of at first. I used to be simply having fun with enjoying tennis. Now we’re right here, in Grand Slam finals and it’s arduous to imagine.

“I step on court docket believing that I can win each match. That I feel makes all of the distinction from the place I used to be earlier than.

“When you find yourself not assured, it’s slightly bit extra difficult in tennis, I feel, as a result of it’s a very psychological sport.

“I don’t suppose there was a particular second when it modified. It was a course of. At first, I misplaced all of the matches, kind of, towards the highest gamers, however I used to be getting nearer.

“I feel each individual has her personal steps. I wanted some extra time to imagine perhaps that I might play at this stage.

“Now issues are slightly totally different for me. I’ve slightly bit extra consideration on myself, however I’m making an attempt to take pleasure in, to dwell the current, to benefit from the second as a result of it’s good to be on this place. It’s additionally good to play nice matches towards prime gamers.”

A group of heroes that includes Paolini, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Lucia Bronzetti, Sara Errani and Martina Trevisan can now name themselves World Champions, as they be part of Jannik Sinner and his teammates with that title after their Davis Cup win final yr.

Billie Jean King (L) waves through the awards ceremony of the BJK Cup Finals in Malaga, alongside ITF President David Haggerty

© Thomas Coex/AFP through Getty Photos

“Congratulations to Italy for successful their fifth Billie Jean King Cup title after coming so shut final yr,” King stated. “They performed excellent tennis this week, and have actually earned their title of World Champions, and I used to be honoured to current them with the trophy.

“Slovakia have additionally been implausible this week, regardless that they’ve simply come up quick at present. It has been an unimaginable week right here in Malaga, and I thank all of the gamers, followers and workers who’ve made it so inspirational. I simply can’t await 2025!”

David Haggerty, ITF President, added: “What a method to finish a beautiful occasion right here in Malaga.

“I’d prefer to congratulate Italy on their totally deserved title, and properly completed to Slovakia for an excellent match, regardless that they had been overwhelmed at present. Like the ten different groups who’ve performed their half this week, they’ve completed their nations proud.

“Thanks to the Area of Andalucia for his or her assist all through this occasion, and our title sponsor Gainbridge for matching final yr’s document stage of prize cash. 2025 can be one other thrilling yr as we construct on the continued development of the ladies’s World Cup of Tennis.”