Italy's BJK Cup title protection is extended by the efforts of Paolini, maintaining their hold on the championship.
Italy is one step closer to defending its BJK Cup title, having secured a spot in the final after a thrilling semi-final clash against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.
The match started with a competitive edge, as Svitolina broke Paolini's serve at the start of the second set, taking a 1-0 lead. However, Paolini responded with resilience, breaking right back to level the set at 1-1. The following games saw both players battling it out, with Paolini saving five break points and surviving eight deuces in the second game of the set.
Paolini then took a 3-1 lead in the second set after breaking Svitolina's serve. The Ukrainian player evened the set at 4-4, but Paolini clawed her way back to win the second set, converting her third match point to keep the semi-final tie in play.
The third set was just as intense, with both players showing their determination. Paolini took a 5-4 lead, but Svitolina fought back to level the game at 5-5. In a nail-biting finish, Paolini managed to hold her serve and break Svitolina's again to secure a 6-4 win in the third set and the match.
Paolini's victory came after a gruelling four-hour match, during which she played five sets. Her performance was praised by her teammate, the reigning Olympic gold medallist, Sara Errani, who commented on Paolini's incredible job, especially considering the tough singles match followed by a doubles clash.
Paolini and Errani downed Lyudmyla Kichenok and Marta Kostyuk 6-2, 6-3 in the doubles match, setting the stage for the decisive singles clash.
The opponents Italy will face in the finals are the United States. The final match takes place in Shenzhen, where Italy is defending its title against the USA team. This marks the first time since Czechia achieved this feat from 2014 to 2016 that a nation has reached the BJK Cup final three years in a row.
Paolini's win over Svitolina was a significant one, as she had lost to the Ukrainian player in their two previous meetings this season, at the Australian Open and at Roland Garros. Cocciaretto also played a crucial role in Italy's journey to the final, pulling off an incredible double comeback for Italy in their quarter-final victory over China on Tuesday.
The BJK Cup final promises to be an exciting and closely contested match, with both teams determined to claim the title. Stay tuned for more updates on this thrilling tournament.
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