Italy won the Billie Jean King Cup for the fifth time and the first since 2023 after beating Slovakia 2-0 in Malaga.
World number 78 Lucia Bronzetti beat world number 50 Viktoria Hruncakova 6-2 6-4 after 1 hour and 21 minutes in the opening match to earn Italy a 1-0 lead.
Bronzetti converted three of the five break points in the first set. Hruncakova battled back from an early break down to take a 4-2 lead with a second break in the sixth game. Bronzetti won the final four games with two breaks to clinch the second set 6-4.
“I am very proud to be here, to represent Italy. I am happy for this win. It was not easy. We are in the final so every match is tough. I am very happy to have brought these points for Italy. My strategy was to hit the ball, to stay solid and try to move her when I had the chance. Last night I did not sleep very well. We all wanted this trophy. It’s our dream for all Italians”, said Bronzetti.
Jasmine Paolini cruised past Rebecca Sramkova 6-2 6-1 in 65 minutes to clinch the title. Paolini crowned a very successful season highlighted by her first WTA 1000 title in Dubai, two Grand Slam titles at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, the Olympic doubles gold medals and two WTA 1000 doubles titles in Rome and Beijing.
Sramkova fended off two break points in the fourth game after three deuces in a close start. Paolini saved a break point before breaking twice in the sixth and eighth games to close out the first set 6-2. Paolini won six consecutive games to build up a 6-2 2-0 lead. Sramkova broke back in the third game for 1-2 with a backhand down the line. Paolini broke twice in the fourth and sixth games and sealed the win on her second match point.
“It’s unbelievable. A crazy year. To finish like this, a title at Billie Jean King Cup, it’s amazing. I don’t have words to describe it”, said Paolini.
Italy beat Slovakia in the qualifying round at last year’s edition of the Billie Jean King last year. The Italian team finished runner-up to Canada in last year’s edition of this tournament. They won four editions in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2023.
“It’s a dream come true. I have such great champions. I have such great champions, great players but also great human beings. I am so proud of them”, said Italian captain Tathiana Garbin.
