“I-ta-lia, I-ta-lia,” roared the Martin Carpena. The same clamor had been heard a few days earlier on the adjacent track. The flag Tricolor it undulates above the rest. It is the symbol of victory. That of Paulini and company in the feminine and Fisherman and his male entourage. The tennis of nations speaks Italian after a historic double with the achievement of Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.
It’s a sweet moment that transalpine tennis is experiencing, whatever the genre. This is the fifth time since the start of the century that the women’s tournament has been sealed. The third time they did it in the masculine sphere and the first time they coincide in time and form. They thus become the fifth nation to achieve double after the United States (1963, 1969, 1978, 1979, 1981 and 1982), Australia (1964, 1965 and 1973), the Czech Republic, in 2012, and more recently Russia, in 2021.
It was first of all the rackets led by a colossal Paolini who prevailed. Small in proportions, huge when he steps onto a tennis court. He denied Sramkova with a header while the Italian was already ready to subtract and put in another break point, the tenth of the match for her. Nothing stops him.
Even the dizziness of having glory within reach does not break its din. Think and execute. And under this slogan, he surpasses his Slovak rival (6-2, 6-1) and takes fifth place. Billie Jean King Cup for Italy. Until this year, only those most specialized in the circuit knew Jasmine Paolini. Until this year, she had never managed to break the wall of the top 25 of the WTA rankings. Until this year…
Until this year everything changed. The Italian has established herself as one of the great attractions of women’s tennis in particular and Italian tennis in general. In 2024, he won the Dubai Masters 1000, reached the finals of Wimbledon and Roland Garros, and won the gold medal at the Olympic Games, the achievement of his life. Although since this Wednesday he has been fighting hard with the Billie Jean King Cup which he obtained after winning the decisive point.
Berrettini and Sinner take over
They say that when something works, it’s better not to touch it. The Berrettini and Sinner formula gave excellent results in the semi-final. Why change? I had to think Filippo Volandricaptain of the Italian team. Matteo first, Jannik later and another Davis on the move. Impeccable track record.
Where is the victory? Request the anthem of Italy. In Malaga Matteo Berrettini answers first and Jannik Sinner then. Their victories against Van de Zanschulp (6-4, 6-2) and Griekspoor (7-6, 6-2) respectively confirm the arrival of the Italian team for the second consecutive year in the national tennis paradise. Inhospitable territory in the previous 46. Italy’s first double to reach Olympus with the Davis Cup and the Billie Jean King Cup.
