Jasmine Paolini’s Italy reached their second successive Billie Jean King Cup remaining with a 2-1 victory over Poland, who had been given a glimmer of hope by five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
World quantity 4 Paolini and her team-mate Sara Errani clinched the deciding doubles 7-5 7-5 towards Swiatek and Katarzyna Kawa after a rare second-set comeback in Malaga.
Twelve months in the past, four-time champions Italy have been overwhelmed within the BJK Cup remaining by Canada.
They are going to uncover their 2024 remaining opponents on Tuesday, when Nice Britain tackle Slovakia within the second semi-final (11:00 GMT).
“It was robust at this time,” stated 28-year-old Paolini. “The depth was insane.
“You need to give all the things for Italy, for my crew. I discovered the vitality and I am actually blissful.”
World quantity 78 Lucia Bronzetti was the primary to strike for Italy, defeating Poland’s Magda Linette – ranked 40 locations greater – in straight units.
Her 6-4 7-6 (7-3) victory laid the trail for Paolini, who was bidding to beat Swiatek for the primary time.
However whereas Paolini received the opening set, her first in 4 conferences with the Polish world quantity two, Swiatek prevailed 3-6 6-4 6-4 to ship the tie to a decider.
Paolini and Errani, who received Olympic doubles gold collectively in Paris this summer season, saved three set factors earlier than breaking the Poles’ serve after which clinching the opener.
After being damaged within the first sport of the second set, Swiatek and Kawa received 5 consecutive video games for a 5-1 lead. A match tie-break appeared sure, however the Italians had different concepts.
They too reeled off 5 video games for the possibility to serve for the match, and with it, a spot within the remaining.
They did so on the first alternative, cueing large celebrations from the crew in blue.
The 2024 BJK Cup champions will likely be topped on Wednesday evening, with the ultimate getting below means at 16:00 GMT.
