Italy beat Japan to reach Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals

MALAGA – Italy became the first team to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals on Nov 16 as Jasmine Paolini won in singles and doubles to claim a 2-1 victory over Japan.

Ena Shibahara won the opening singles after recovering to beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, but French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Paolini levelled the tie with a straight-sets 6-3, 6-4 win over Moyuka Uchijima.

World No. 4 Paolini then teamed up with Sara Errani to defeat Japanese pair Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive doubles rubber.

Italy, who lost the 2023 final to Canada, will meet either Poland – led by five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek – or 11-time champions Czech Republic in the semi-finals.

The Italians have won the competition on four occasions, the last coming in 2013.

On Nov 15, world No. 2 Swiatek defeated Paula Badosa 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-1 to take Poland into the BJK Cup quarter-finals with a 2-0 victory over hosts Spain.

Magda Linette put Poland ahead in the tie with a hard-fought 7-6 (8-6), 2-6, 6-4 victory in 3hr 51min over Sara Sorribes Tormo.

Poland matched their best-ever BJK Cup result by reaching the last eight for the first time since 2015.

The ties on Nov 15 had been postponed on Nov 13 after a severe weather alert in the region, following devastating floods in the east of Spain.

Five-time Grand Slam champion Swiatek, appearing in the BJK Cup Finals for the first time, was given a stern test by world No. 12 Badosa, but eventually triumphed by converting her fourth match point.

“Magda played an amazing match in the morning, we both did it... I’m happy we finally won a match in the Billie Jean King Cup Finals, it’s a huge step for sure,” said Swiatek.

“For sure (Badosa) pushed me and there was a lot of pressure.”

The first match was even closer, with Linette emerging triumphant after a gruelling scrap against world No. 106 Sorribes Tormo at the Martin Carpena Arena.

The Pole defeated her opponent for the first time in five meetings, with their tussle finishing nine minutes short of the longest ever BJK Cup match.

“I hate playing Sara... I knew it was going to take me four hours, and it did. I’m so happy, I’ve never beaten her before, and it took everything that I had today,” said Linette, ranked 38th.

Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter also sent Britain into the last eight with a 2-0 win over Germany, after they both won their singles rubbers.

Germany, who were hoping for their 100th BJK Cup victory, last faced Britain in 1985 and came into the tie as underdogs.

Raducanu, playing for the first time since suffering a foot injury in September, largely impressed but needed six match points to seal a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Jule Niemeier.

“I think I played some really good tennis today, playing Jule on an indoor hard court isn’t easy,” said 2021 US Open winner Raducanu, currently ranked 58th.

British No. 1 Boulter made light work of Laura Siegemund in the second singles match to wrap up the tie with a 6-1, 6-2 triumph.

After the German broke in the first game, Boulter won the next six to claim the first set in commanding fashion. Boulter sealed her win with a forehand down the line to convert her second match point and set up a last-eight clash with Canada.

“I’m thrilled with getting a rubber for GB today, matches like these mean more than all the other ones because you’re playing with a flag on your chest,” said Boulter, who was backed by strong British support. AFP