POL 1-2 ITA: Italy through to second straight final
18/11/2024 18:21
Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani prove too strong for Iga Swiatek and Katarzyna Kawa in decisive doubles
By Molly McElwee
Italy became back-to-back Billie Jean King Cup finalists after ousting Iga Swiatek’s Poland team in a thrilling tie that went down to the wire.
Italy were pushed all the way in this memorable semi-final and ultimately prevailed thanks to a stunning doubles performance, in particular from the experienced Sara Errani.
She and Jasmine Paolini combined to beat Swiatek and Katarzyna Kawa 7-5 7-5 to give Italy another chance at winning the Billie Jean King Cup trophy this Wednesday.
Remarkably, Errani hit a gutsy underarm serve on match point to throw Swiatek off and eventually drew the error in the rally. As soon as Swiatek’s shot went long, Errani fell to the ground in celebration and there were emotional scenes as the Italian team stormed the court.
“I feel it and I did it,” Errani said post-match of the moment she decided to do an underarm serve. “I just advised Jasmine after [the] first serve, so it's just I feel it and I did it, just like that, not thinking too much.
"Playing for our country, for Italy, it's always really special. So I have to thank Tathi [Garbine] to make me be in the team again. I'm very happy, I'm very proud to be part of this team. Was a special day today. We fight a lot.”
They achieved it despite world No. 2 Swiatek’s best efforts. Both Paolini and Swiatek spent more than four hours on court overall on Monday. As well as the doubles, their singles match was a high-quality epic lasting more than two-and-a-half hours, culminating in Swiatek finally snatching a well-deserved comeback win 3-6 6-4 6-4.
They did it despite world No. 2 Swiatek’s best efforts. As well as the doubles match, the second singles match of the tie between her and Paolini was a high-quality epic lasting more than two-and-a-half hours, culminating in Swiatek finally snatching a well-deserved comeback win 3-6 6-4 6-4.
That result kept Poland’s hopes alive as earlier in the night Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti had fended off Magda Linette 6-4 7-6 to give Italy the 1-0 advantage.
It was a crucial point in her first ever singles match for Italy as Bronzetti knew that Paolini had to contend with five-time major champion Swiatek in the next match – one of the toughest asks in tennis.
Paolini went into this tie never having beaten Swiatek in singles in three previous attempts. In fact, she had never won more than three games against Swiatek, their most recent meeting a punishing 6-2 6-1 victory for the Polish player in the Roland-Garros final in June.
She was still unable to get the better of Swiatek, but this match was different. Paolini took the opening set in emphatic fashion and was going toe-to-toe with Swiatek. She did not take her chances thereafter though, converting only three of 16 break points throughout the match.
She also appeared to tighten up in the closing stages, while Swiatek – and the animated Poland fans – only grew in strength. This was a match full of momentum swings and a complete battle of wills, but Swiatek somehow prevailed by the finest of margins.
That contest would take some beating to outshine, but the drama of the doubles did not disappoint. There were countless entertaining rallies and exchanges at the net.
Swiatek – who before this week had not played doubles since 2021 – was showing her volleying prowess, but it was Errani’s ruthless net play and instincts that kept Italy in contention throughout. In the opener, she helped to save two set points before the Italians took the lead 7-5.
In the second set, Poland looked to be well on their way to levelling the match. Early on, a fortunate net cord sent Swiatek’s shot sailing over Errani’s head to secure the 3-1 break for Poland and they powered to 5-1.
But that was the end of their surge, as the Italians clawed their way back, winning the next six games and the match to end Poland’s best ever run at the Billie Jean King Cup. Afterward Swiatek said she had “no regrets”.
Italy will face either Slovakia or Great Britain in Wednesday’s final.
