The duo formed by Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini provided the last points for Italy in the match against Japan’s Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi (6-3 and 6-4).thus Japan was eliminated from the Billie Jean King Cup and the transalpines will compete in the semifinals of the tournament.
This was the culmination of a comeback that Paolini had begun with a resounding victory over Moyuka Uchijima (6-3 and 6-4) in the second match.
The fourth-best player on the WTA women’s circuit needed half an hour to redeem her country from its first Billie Jean King Cup setback. With unstoppable speed, she took the first set 6-3.
The Japanese Moyuka Uchijima, who was outmatched in all aspects, tried to stand up to the Italian from the serve, in the second set where he put another gear, but it was not enough.
After a back-and-forth game, Paolini broke serve and calmly lifted the victory for Italy, closing out the second round 6-4 to send the tie into a doubles tiebreaker.
In the first game of the day, Ena Shibahara overcame a bad start to overcome Elisabetta Cocciarettoworld number 54, in three sets (3-6, 6-4 and 6-4).
Shibahara, former world number four in doubles, once again performed with flying colors for her country in a commendable comeback against Cocciaretto, extending her fine form, as she managed to win her match against over Romanian Jaqueline Cristian in the previous round to tie the series.
Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ranked 54th in the TWA circuit, found fluidity in the first round with good tennis that allowed her to take 6-3, which the transalpine fans celebrated.
In the second set, Shibahara was down 2-3 and the Ancona-born player seemed to have the situation under control, but everything turned 180 degrees. The Japanese ended up rolling as the Italian fan section began to taste victory.
Shibahara’s reaction was commendable, he responded with winning points to end the score tie by 6-4 postponing the outcome for the final action.
Here, in a 3-3 situation, the Japanese athlete achieved a break of serve for 4-3, a low blow for the Italian, who found himself behind, lost 5-3 and forced to return almost no margin.
Although Cocciaretto won the next game and the Japanese threw away two match points, in the next game the Asian team celebrated, with Shibahara closing out a good match of two hours and 44 minutes by serving straight .
Source: La Verdad
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