Tennis - Billie Jean King Cup Finals - Japan v Italy - Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena, Malaga, Spain - November 16, 2024 Italy's Jasmine Paolini celebrates winning her match against Japan's Moyuka Uchijima REUTERS/Jon Nazca
MALAGA, Spain (Reuters) -Italy became the first nation through to the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals after they beat Japan 2-1 with a deciding straight sets doubles victory by Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani over Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi on Saturday.
The tie was locked at 1-1 after French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Paolini beat 56th-ranked Moyuka Uchijima 6-3 6-4 in the second singles match to put the Italians on the board.
While the opening set of that match was all one-way traffic, the second was level at 4-4 before world number four Paolini pulled away with the win in little over one hour.
Paolini returned for the doubles with Errani, who has five doubles Grand Slam titles to her name. The pair, who won gold at the Paris Olympics, dominated to beat the Japanese duo 6-3 6-4.
After Japan were 5-1 down in the second set, Aoyama and Hozumi showed great spirit to make it 5-4 but their resistance was short-lived as the Italians sealed the win.
"The strategy was to serve well and try to be aggressive because the game was really fast. They played amazing in doubles, so it was a really stressful match. But in the end, I'm grateful that we did it as a team," Paolini said after their doubles win.
"This year I'm a little bit used to it," the 28-year-old added when asked about playing singles and doubles back-to-back. "But I will rest now, I will work with the physios here. I have to thank them, working with us and behind the scenes."
Earlier, American-born Japanese player Ena Shibahara, ranked 135th in the world, battled back from a set down to beat 54th-ranked Elisabetta Cocciaretto 3-6 6-4 6-4.
Four-times Billie Jean King Cup champions Italy, who were runners-up to Canada in 2023, last won the title in 2013. They will face either Poland or the Czech Republic for a place in the final. The Poles and the Czechs play later on Saturday.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; editing by Ken Ferris and Christian Radnedge)
