Italy, Ukraine Set Billie Jean King Cup Semifinal Showdown

SHENZHEN/WASHINGTON, September 24, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

Two-time defending champion and top seed Italy faced off with host country China in Thursday’s final quarterfinal tie of the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup Finals by Gainbridge, in a repeat meeting at the same stage last year.

Italy, a winner in all three of their previous meetings with the hosts – garnering all 10 matches played across those meetings – had their unbeaten streak broken in the first match, when Zheng Shuai defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets at No. 2 singles. However, the Italians rallied behind No. 1 Jasmine Paolini, a winner of the last eight matches she had played in representing her country, first in singles. Then, she and Sara Errani fought their way to victory in doubles to clinch the tie over China 2-1 in a thrilling late-night finish.

On Saturday, Italy will face Ukraine, which overcame a loss at No. 1 singles by Elina Svitolina to defeat Belgium 2-1, in the semifinal round.

Italy 2, China 1

As the Italy-China tie unfolded inside noisy Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena, 54th-ranked Zhang Shuai gave China a huge boost with a 6-0, 6-2 win over No. 67 Elisabetta Cocciaretto in one hour to give the Chinese a 1-0 lead.

Zhang struck six aces and won 74 percent (28 of 38) of her first-serve points. She saved all six break points she faced and broke Cocciaretto’s serve five times in seven tries. Zhang outpointed her opponent 59-39.

“I’m super calm today,” Zhang said during her news conference. “I think I’m ready to play my best tennis because normally every year I play my best tennis in China, no matter in Beijing, Wuhan, Guangzhou or in Shenzhen. I play a lot great matches in China. I believe I can do better again.”

Next, it was up to the experienced Jasmine Paolini at No. 1 singles to get Italy on the scoreboard and turn it over to doubles, where she and Sara Errani would attempt to win the tie. The 20th-ranked Paolini did just that by defeating No. 52 Zheng Qinwen, 6-3, 7-6 (4), in one hour and 43 minutes to gain a crucial point in the tie. It was Paolini’s ninth-straight BJK Cup victory.

Paolini capitalized on her second serve, winning 59 percent (13 of 22) second-serve points, and converted three of five break points. She outpointed the Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng 75-67.

“Zheng Qinwen is playing unbelievable tennis, an unbelievable level,” Paolini said during her on-court interview. “It’s always tough to play against her. I’m happy with my performance. I think I played a really good match. The atmosphere was really intense, really nice thanks to the Italian and Chinese fans who came out to support tennis.”

During her news conference, Zheng said: “First of all, I think that atmosphere was incredible. I want to say thank you for all the crowd for coming to cheer the Chinese team. I really enjoyed the atmosphere. It’s a pity I couldn’t perform my best.”

With the quarterfinal level at 1-all, the Italy-China tie would be decided by doubles – and the Italians were invested in Paolini and Errani, who won the 2024 Olympic gold medal paired together. As it happened, they prevailed over Guo Hanyu and Jiang Xinyu, in three emotional but compelling sets, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, in two hours and 14 minutes. Paolini and Errani converted eight of 12 break points and outpointed their opponents 97-90 to clinch the tie victory for Italy.

“It was amazing tonight,” Paolini said during an on-court interview with Errani by her side. “I think when we saw the draw and knew we would play China one more time, we knew they would be tough. I think we did an amazing job.”

Errani added: “It’s always special to play my best here.”

In the final set, Errani resorted to hitting her second serves underhanded to keep the ball in play. She and Paolini combined to place all 23 of their second serves in play, winning points on 44 percent (10 of 23) of them.

“Just fighting every ball and trying to make the point,” Paolini pointed out during her team’s news conference. “It’s easy to say, but I think everybody today put an effort. We got the win. We are really happy.”

As the quarterfinal tie ended as 12:55 a.m. Friday morning, Paolini and Errani were exhausted but also delighted as they received congratulations from their team captain, Tathiana Garbin, and teammates.

“Same tie, same country, but different players. Was a very tough one, even the last time. This one especially with all these player, they play unbelievable tennis. I was proud to be there and watching this level of tennis,” Garbin said.

“I’m proud of my players and the effort they give today. Just proud of them.”

Italian eyes were a bit weary but smiling, too.

Ukraine 2, Belgium 1

Earlier Thursday, Ukraine defeated Belgium 2-1 in the third quarterfinal tie to advance to the semifinals for the second-straight year. Ukraine, which won the only previous Billie Jean King Cup meeting between the two nations – claiming a 3-2 victory in a deciding doubles match when they met in World Group II in 2008 – was lifted by unheralded Anhelina Kalinina at No. 2 singles and in doubles.

The 47th-ranked Kalinina put Ukraine ahead 1-0 with her 6-7 (6), 6-1, 6-1 victory over 474th-ranked Jana Otzipka in two hours and eight minutes. Then, after World No. 7 Elina Svitolina, who aimed to record her 20th BJK Cup match-win and to become the fifth Ukrainian player to achieve the feat, was upset by 209th-ranked Greet Minnen, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4, in two hours and 44 minutes, Kalinina returned to the court teamed with Lyudmyla Kichenok with the tie on the line. Together, the Ukrainian duo fought past Magali Kempen and Lara Salden of Belgium, 6-3, 6-3, in one hour and 22 minutes, outpointing their opponents 65-49.

“It’s been a long day today with a lot of tennis,” Kalinina said during her team’s news conference afterward. “I’m really happy for our team, that we made this team effort and we get through this challenge, for sure, because I think today Team Belgium showed really, really great and high-quality tennis.

“Just happy to get this battle, happy to get this win. Hopefully, just keep going and be healthy and enjoy this moment.”

Ukraine’s victory over Belgium equaled the nation’s best performance of reaching the semifinals, which they achieved last year.

Belgium, which advanced past 18-time BJK Cup champion United States during April’s Qualifiers to book their place in the Finals this week, was without its top player, World No. 19 Elise Mertens. However, Minnen stepped up and played well above her ranking.

“It’s just something different, this competition,” Minnen said after the tie during her team’s news conference. “It brings out the best in me. I play at a very high level every time I’m on court for my country. It’s hard to explain the words. Once I wear the red jersey, it just gives me an extra motivation, an extra kick. I’m super proud of myself, the way I played today.”

The Belgians were attempting to end their 15-year absence from the last four, having last reached the semifinals in 2011. Instead, it’s Ukraine, which will face Italy in Saturday evening’s second semifinal. Czechia and Spain will face off in the first semifinal on Friday evening.

“We are happy to go through. We are really happy that last year it was, like, historic achievement for us. This year it feels kind of normal,” said Ukraine team captain Illya Marchenko. “It’s good that we are here and we are among the top teams.

“I’m really proud of my team. I’m really happy we can bring this joy to Ukrainian spectators.”

By the numbers

Coming into Thursday’s quarterfinal tie, Italy had won all three of their previous meetings against China without losing a match: On neutral ground in Tokyo in 1981, at home in Castellaneta Marina in 2007, and in Shenzhen last year.

“Quotable …”

“The big challenge is to not think to defending title. You have to be here to not confirm anything, but to think about our team, to growing every time, and to try to give of our best every time we get on court. That’s the biggest challenge.

“Obviously, we have a great opponent that we respect a lot. But I believe that my players are going to have fun in this competition. They’ll always enjoy.”

– Tathiana Garbin, Italy team captain, during her team’s pre-tournament news conference on Tuesday, on the challenge of repeating their championship run of the last two years.

Italy, Ukraine Set Billie Jean King Cup Semifinal Showdown

Search

International Blogs

Podcast

Categories