A clinical Jasmine Paolini guided Italy to a second consecutive Billie Jean King Cup title with a commanding victory over Jessica Pegula to seal the tie against the United States in Shenzhen on Sunday.
World No. 8 Paolini went undefeated in singles and doubles this week, and wrapped up her faultless campaign with a 6-4, 6-2 victory against Pegula to hand Italy a sixth BJK Cup triumph, which comes with $2 million in prize money.
World No. 91 Elisabetta Cocciaretto kicked off the final with a 6-4, 6-4 upset of the 18th-ranked Emma Navarro, to hand Italy the opening point in the tie.
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