Italian
Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Jasmine Paolini lead the Italian Billie Jean King Cup team to the semifinals, both coming back from behind to secure a 2-0 victory over China.
SHENZHEN, CHINA – Italy’s women’s tennis team began their Billie Jean King Cup campaign with two remarkable comebacks. The defending champions faced a challenging debut against host nation China but managed to defeat them 2-0, making the doubles match unnecessary.
Six and a half hours of intense rallies and emotions. In the first match, Elisabetta Cocciaretto defeated Yue Yuan 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, coming back from being 4-1 down in the second set and 4-0 in the third. Jasmine Paolini beat Xinyu Wang 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-4. Italy will now face the winner of the Spain vs. Ukraine match, scheduled for Friday morning.
All matches of the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals are broadcast live on the SuperTennis channel.
Italy’s captain, Tathiana Garbin, commented after the victory:
“We knew the Chinese team would challenge us, but the girls stayed focused and showed courage. Spain and Ukraine are strong teams, and in these events, everything is always open.”
Cocciaretto Climbs Back at the Last Minute
The first match of the day saw world No. 91 Elisabetta Cocciaretto face No. 102 Yuan Yue. The first set was tight, with both players holding serve until the sixth game, when Yuan secured the first break. Cocciaretto saved a 40-15 point but Yuan held again to take the set 6-4.
The second set started poorly for the Italian, with Yuan leading 3-0, winning her fifth consecutive game. Cocciaretto responded, saving another break and bringing the score to 1-3. Yuan had two opportunities to go up 5-1, but Cocciaretto fought back, breaking to 3-5 and eventually taking the set 7-5.
In the third set, Yuan surged ahead 4-0, but Cocciaretto staged another comeback, winning the set 7-5 and the match.
Paolini Completes the Comeback
Jasmine Paolini started her match poorly, conceding an early break to Xinyu Wang, a 23-year-old from Shenzhen, where the finals are being held. Paolini quickly leveled the score to 1-1 and continued fighting through the set, which Wang initially led 5-4. Paolini tied the match 5-5 and then went ahead 6-5, eventually winning the first set 7-6(4).
In the third set, Paolini broke Wang at the first opportunity and maintained the lead, overcoming a 2-4 deficit to ultimately win 6-4 and secure Italy’s place in the semifinals.
Paolini said after the match:
“It was tough; she played great, but I tried to stay in the match for everyone on the bench, for the fans, and for my country. In the end, somehow I managed to turn it around. I’m happy because it’s always a pleasure to play wearing this jersey.”
Photo Credits: ITF #BJKCupFinals
