By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday November 18, 2024
Olympic gold medal winners Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini propelled Italy past Poland and into the BJK Cup final.
Photo Source: BJK Cup
When it comes to playing with the Italian flag on their backs, Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani are a virtual lock. The Italian duo, who won Olympic gold in women's doubles in Paris this summer, toppled world-beating Iga Swiatek and Katarzyna Kawa 7-5 7-5 to send four-time BJK Cup champion Italy through to the final, where either Slovakia or Great Britain will be waiting.
Errani clinched the tie behind an underarm serve, as the Italians eventually forced a Swiatek backhand error on match point before breaking out in celebration. Errani and Paolini won the final six games of the match, rallying from 5-1 down in the second set to book their spot in the final and leave Swiatek and company dejected, just shy of Poland's first BJK Cup final appearance.
"It wasn't easy because I watched both matches, cheering for them 100 percent, like if I wasn’t plahying,” victorious Errani said. “So it was not the best preparation but it's what you have to do in a team like this. It was not easy, it was a really long day. I didn't start too well in the doubles, I wasn't 100% ready, but then we found a way."
Paolini fell to Swiatek in a dramatic three-set battle, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, after Lucia Bronzetti had defeated Magda Linette to give Italy the lead, 6-4, 7-6(3).
Swiatek improved to 12-2 lifetime in BJK Cup singles matches, but dropped to 3-2 in doubles overall at the competition.
The Italian would like nothing more than to cap off her breakout season with another triumph.
"It was tough today. I mean I played with Iga (Swiatek) for two and a half hours,” fourth-ranked Paolini said. “But the intensity was insane, so I was a little bit tired. But I have to say, I said to myself I had to push. You still have doubles, you have to go give everything for Italy, for my team, so I found the energy and I'm really happy."
Great Britian and Slovakia will square off on Tuesday in Malaga, with the final scheduled for Wednesday.