Billie Jean King Cup Finals

[jimlosaltos]

he 2024 Billie Jean King Cup Finals under way in Malaga featured 12 national teams, and is now down to the quarterfinals.

WTA: " Paolini wins twice as Italy makes semifinals at Billie Jean King Cup Finals"

Quarterfinals

Canada vs Great Britain
Australia vs Slovakia

Poland vs Czechia
Japan through vs Italy

[jimlosaltos]

BBC Sport: " Boulter & Raducanu put GB into BJK Cup quarter-finals"

Emma Raducanu made a winning return from injury before Katie Boulter followed with another victory to secure Great Britain's place in the Billie Jean King Cup quarter-finals.

[jimlosaltos]

Slovakia takes out Britain to meet Italy in the BJK Cup finals to be held tomorrow, Nov 20th.

[jimlosaltos]

Italy wins -- Everything !

Well not yet, but Italy won the BJK Cup today. This was the Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani show., not to discount Bronzetti but ...

Paolini and Bronzetti won today's singles vs Slovenia. But it was Errani and Paolni that won crucial doubles matches along with way --- capped, dare I type it, by Errani's "bold" underarm serve vs Iga Swiantek on match point vs Poland Monday that will enter tennis lore !

Paolini at 28 hard a career year, starting out ranked 30th and ending up at 4 after making the finals of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon, winning Olympic Gold with Errani, and now BJK.

As for Errani, it was a decade ago that she completed the "Career Slam" in women's doubles. Now, she has a "Golden Career Slam" in women's doubles, plus a BJK Cup team trophy.

Lesson for weekend hackers like myself. Errani, all 5 ft 5 in and, i don't know, maybe 105 lbs of her, has arguably the worst serve in pro tennis. I almost split a gut watching the semifinals when, serving to Iga of the Massive Forehand, Sarah served and volleyed. And won. After that, serving underarm was like the spirit of Alexander Bublik had possessed her body.

Gods bless her. What a play.

P.S. Imagine if Italy { in quarters vs Argentina) wins the Davis Cup ...

The tennis year will be marked by:

* Jannik Sinner with ATP Tour Finals, number one ranking, US Open and Australian Open mens.
* Italy takes Olympic Gold in Women's Doubles, men's .... what did Lorenzo Musetti get, Bronze.
* Italy .... TBD in Davis Cup. If a country's tennis can have collective momentum, Italy's got the 'mo workin'

Carotta Rulz !!!