Women tennis world champions

The Billie Jean King Cup in Malaga is coloured blue: the girls tennis team triumphed in the final against Slovakia! Lucia Bronzetti started well against Viktoria Hruncakova, winning in two sets (6-2, 6-4), and Jasmine Paolini, world number 4, went even better against Rebecca Sramkova (6-2, 6-1). The gap on the court was there, but it is known that the tension and emotionality of these challenges can play nasty tricks, all the more so as the Slovaks had overcome the hostile Great Britain in the semifinals. The Italians, on the other hand, under the gritty gaze of captain Tathiana Garbin, played with attention, overcoming the delicate moments (Bronzetti was down 4-2 in the second partial) and leaving no space to their opponents. Jasmine, after a head-to-head start to the first set, accelerated to a great pace, as we have seen her do so many times in this memorable 2024, and closed the score in just over an hour. For the women's Italy, whose real stumbling block had been Iga Swiatek's Poland in the semi-finals (won 2-1 with Sara Errani's important contribution in the deciding doubles), it was the fifth title won in the competition. The last one dated back to 2013, last year it had escaped in the final against Canada.

Jasmine Paolini, (LaPresse)

"An incredible, crazy season. To close with this title in the BJK Cup is fantastic, I have no words. I think about enjoying every moment, I feel lucky to be part of this team and we had an incredible week," Jasmine Paolini commented at the end of the match. The Tuscan tennis player, Lucia Bronzetti (who had never played a match in the BJK cup before this week) acknowledged the leadership of the team, which also included Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Martina Trevisan: "Jasmine has really raised her level this year. She is an example for all of us'.

While waiting for the Davis Cup match, Italy-Argentina tomorrow at 5pm, the festive night has just begun with the national anthem under the eyes of the great Billie Jean King, after whom the cup is named.