The Italian team led by double Olympic champions Jasmine Paolini/Sara Errani successfully defended their title in the final against the USA.
The Italian tennis players successfully defended their title at the Billie Jean King Cup in Shenzhen, China.
The team led by double Olympic champions Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani defeated record winners the USA 2-0 in the final without losing a single set, triumphing for the sixth time in the team competition formerly known as the Federation Cup and Fed Cup.
US dry spell continues
Elisabetta Cocciaretto won the first match against Emma Navarro 6-4, 6-4. Paolini then defeated Jessica Pegula 6-4, 6-2, ensuring that the US women’s drought continues: the United States has been waiting for its 19th BJK Cup title since 2017.
The Italians reached the final for the third time in a row. In 2023, they lost to Canada, and in 2024, they defeated Slovakia.
The German team clearly missed out on the final tournament of the best eight nations in China. In April in The Hague, coach Rainer Schüttler’s team lost to Great Britain and the Netherlands.
German team fights against relegation
In November (14th to 16th), they will face Belgium and Turkey in Ismaning to avoid relegation. Only the group winner will remain in the World Group and have the chance to compete in the final tournament next year.
Germany won the competition in 1987 and 1992 with Steffi Graf, and most recently a German team led by Angelique Kerber reached the final in Prague in 2014 (losing 1-3 to Czechia).
