And 5 for Italy: eleven years after its last title in the BJK Cup, the transalpine selection won a new coronation on Wednesday in Malaga, confirming the insolent health of Italian tennis already at the top, among men, by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Barely the decisive victory of Jasmine Paolini acquired, the entire Italian bench roared with happiness and rushed to embrace its leader before beginning a lap of honor in an enclosure overwhelmingly won by the transalpine camp.
The finals are sometimes the simplest matches: after having sweated blood and water to beat the Japan 2-1 in the quarter-final and the Poland of world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in half, the players of Tathiana Garbin easily won their two singles against the Slovakiasparing themselves a decisive double, which is always dangerous.
Lucia Bronzetti (78ᵉ) dismissed Viktoria Hruncakova (238ᵉ) 6-2, 6-4 in the first match, before the world No. 4 Jasmine Paolini sweeps 6-2, 6-1 Rebecca Sramkova (43ᵉ). Before this 5th coronation, theItaly had already triumphed in 2006, 2009, 2010 and 2013 in the competition which was then called the Fed Cup.
It was at the time of the greatness of Francesca Schiavonewinner of Roland-Garros in 2010, and Flavia Pennettawinner of theUS Open five years later. But at the time, theItaly struggled to stand out on the men's circuit.
Everything changed today with the domination of the world No. 1 Jannik Sinnerwinner of two Grand Slams in 2024 and the Masters ATP in Turin on Sunday, his first victory in his country. “It’s been an incredible year for Italian tennis”welcomed Jasmine Paolini at a press conference. “We have many fans in the country, tennis is growing enormously”she added.
At 28 years old, the Italian appeared on Wednesday as the leader of a united Italian selection and hilarious at the evocation of the atmosphere in the group and the fiery card games “after dinner”.
“All my players were smiling during the competition, trying to enjoy the moment”a harmony “not easy” to find according to the captain Tathiana Garbin.
Sinner enters the fray this Thursday
By returning to victory on Wednesday in BJK Cupl’Italy took over the list at Canadawho had justly beaten the Italian in the final of the 2023 edition.
Surprise faller of UNITED STATES in the first round of the final phase, the Slovakia conversely fails to win a second title after that of 2002. For Viktoria Hruncakovawho spoke alongside a Rebecca Sramkova in tears, “Now is the time for sadness”.
“But what we have done here is absolutely incredible and I think we will need a few hours, maybe a few days to achieve it.”she added. The Slovak captain Matej Liptak also is “dejected today, but very happy for the future with this result”.
