Italy has done it again. On Sunday, in Shenzhen, defending champions maintained their Billie Jean King Cup title beating 18 time champions United States by 2 goals to 0.
The victory saw Italy win their sixth title in the coveted women team competition and America longing before they won another trophy, their last being in 2017.
The night stars were Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Jasmine Paolini who both scored their singles matches to clinch the victory.
World No. 91 Cocciaretto did not wait long, beating Emma Navarro 6-4, 6-4. The 24-year-old made a comeback 2-4 down in the second set and he concluded the victory in a glittering rally on match point. Cocciaretto said it was an incredible match to me. I was aware that she is a great player and I had to play my best tennis.
Now Paolini came into the limelight. The No. 8 in the world upset Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-2, to get the first victory in six encounters with the American star. Paolini fought on in a close opening set, where he shattered Pegua with a red-hot backhand, and afterwards came back to himself in the second after having been early broken. By the time it was finished she had her arms raised in celebration and was dancing along with her teammates on the court with fans screaming.
It was a very good week, we said, Paolini said; and today we were playing against the United States, we had not supposed of winning and therefore we were very glad to win. Frankly speaking I did not anticipate it, but it is even more special this year.
Italy was also the first team to retain the Billie Jean King Cup since the three successive wins of the Czech Republic in 2014 to 2016.
The victory is part of an Italian tennis golden run. The male team has been successful in the past 2 Davis cups and the Italian men are crossing the brackets in the Slams and shining in the Olympics.
On Sunday however the focus was on Paolini, Cocciaretto and a gladdening Italian team which again dominated the stage of BJK Cup.
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