Billie Jean King Cup 2024: Italy win first title since 2013 with 2-0 victory over Slovakia
Paolini, who has loved a leap forward 2024 season, became once section of the Italian crew that completed runners-as a lot as Canada one year within the past.
The realm quantity four gained 6-2 6-1 towards Rebecca Sramkova after Lucia Bronzetti had establish Italy ahead with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Viktoria Hruncakova within the well-known singles match.
“I continuously dreamed about this trophy,” said Bronzetti, who became once taking part in staunch her second singles match within the competitors.
“We’re the enviornment champions, we are able to also additionally be well-known happier. It is a dream of all of ours and we are so proud.”
Italy, who will build $2.4m (£1.9m) in prize money for a hit their fifth title, own grow to be a tennis powerhouse not too long within the past, with the males’s crew – led by world #1 Jannik Sinner – a hit its first Davis Cup in 47 years in 2023.
Captain Tathiana Garbin said: “It be a dream come simply. I if fact be told own such gargantuan champions, gargantuan gamers, and gargantuan human beings.
“I am so happy with them. They combat on on each day foundation foundation.”
Slovakia, who knocked Extensive Britain out on Tuesday, were taking part in of their first last since they gained the occasion in 2002.
Paolini became once ranked Thirtieth when she became once defeated by Canada’s Leylah Fernandez in last one year’s last, whereas she had never developed past the second spherical of a necessary.
Nonetheless the 28-one year-worn has loved a stellar 2024, reaching the last of the French Originate and Wimbledon before a hit Olympic doubles gold in Paris with Sara Errani.
Paolini held her hands aloft and skipped joyfully spherical the court with her crew-mates as she delivered the title for Italy.
“An not likely one year, a crazy one year. To invent esteem this with a title within the Billie Jean King Cup is astonishing. I plot not own phrases to describe it,” Paolini said.
Sramkova, ranked Forty third, had been in scintillating invent staunch by the last week, triumphing over world quantity 11 Danielle Collins of america before stopping motivate to beat British #1 Katie Boulter.
Nonetheless she struggled towards Paolini, who took honest staunch thing concerning the Slovak’s 28 unforced errors and gained four successive video games to seal victory.
Her fetch ensured Italy failed to need a deciding doubles match within the staunch-of-three sequence and denied Errani a fiftieth Billie Jean King Cup look.
Paolini added: “I’m making an strive staunch to revel in every second because its crucial additionally to fancy where you would possibly be and I if fact be told feel lucky to be in this build aside, I if fact be told feel lucky to be section of this crew.
“I think we played an not likely week and I’m if fact be told overjoyed this one year that we are able to also elevate the trophy home again.”
