Sawt Falasteen - Italy beat Japan to reach BJK Cup semi-finals

NYSE - LSE
CMSC 2.5% 20.36 $
RBGPF 7.49% 76.2 $
BTI 3.29% 62.97 $
BCE 2.7% 21.11 $
RIO 3.48% 84.56 $
RELX 4.09% 41.08 $
NGG 2.8% 85.22 $
GSK 4.79% 51.15 $
RYCEF 0.59% 16.94 $
CMSD 2.02% 20.27 $
BCC 4.07% 77.98 $
VOD 4.05% 16.28 $
AZN 2.71% 189.01 $
JRI 2.41% 11.64 $
BP -4.34% 45.61 $
Italy beat Japan to reach BJK Cup semi-finals
Italy beat Japan to reach BJK Cup semi-finals / Photo: JORGE GUERRERO - AFP

Italy beat Japan to reach BJK Cup semi-finals

Italy became the first team to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals on Saturday as Jasmine Paolini won in singles and doubles to claim a 2-1 victory over Japan.

Text size:

Ena Shibahara won the opening singles after recovering to beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, but French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Paolini levelled the tie with a straight-sets win over Moyuka Uchijima.

World number four Paolini then teamed up with Sara Errani to defeat Japanese pair Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi 6-3, 6-4 in the decisive doubles rubber.

Italy, who lost last year's final to Canada, will meet either Poland -- led by five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek -- or the Czech Republic in the semi-finals.

The Italians have won the competition on four occasions, the last coming in 2013.

Canada face Britain in the quarter-finals on Sunday, while Australia take on Slovakia.

G.AbuGhazaleh--SF-PST