Italy's Comeback King: Cocciaretto Shines 🎾
On a thrilling Tuesday in Shenzhen, defending champions Italy stunned hosts the Chinese mainland 2-0 to secure a place in the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals. It was a day of nail-biting rallies, fearless serves, and unstoppable spirit.
In the opener, the Chinese mainland's rising star Yuan Yue looked set for victory after taking the first set 6-4 against 24-year-old Elisabetta Cocciaretto. But Cocciaretto wasn't ready to bow out. Facing a 5-3 deficit in the second set, she unleashed an epic five-game streak to take it 7-5 and force a decider. The drama peaked when Yuan surged to a 4-0 lead in the third set, only for Cocciaretto to channel her inner superhero and fight back to a 7-5 win, giving Italy the crucial 1-0 edge.
Jasmine Paolini then stepped onto the court and sealed the deal for Italy, wrapping up the tie in straight sets and igniting wild celebrations. With this victory, Italy is one step closer to defending their crown and adds another chapter to their Billie Jean King Cup legacy.
The semifinals are set – can Italy repeat history? 🎾🏆
Reference(s):
Italy defeat hosts China to advance to Billie Jean King Cup semifinals
cgtn.com
