Svitolina makes history, sends Ukraine into Billie Jean King Cup final
Svitolina comfortably led Ukraine into the final (photo: ukrainian_tennis_federation, Instagram)
Ukrainian women's tennis team has reached the Billie Jean King Cup final for the first time. The athletes did not need a deciding team match, winning both singles matches.
An hour toward victory
Elina Svitolina won both sets 6:2, 6:2. The match lasted 1 hour and 3 minutes.
It was the fourth meeting between Elina Svitolina and Jasmine Paolini, with the Ukrainian claiming her third victory. It also served as a measure of revenge for Svitolina after last year's defeat, which also came in the Billie Jean King Cup semifinals.
The loss ended Paolini's run of six consecutive singles victories for her national team.
Billie Jean King Cup, semifinals
Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) vs. Jasmine Paolini (Italy) — 6:2, 6:2
Key semifinal numbers
This victory marked Svitolina's 20th win in the team competition. She became only the fifth Ukrainian woman to reach that milestone. The others were Olena Tatarkova, Kateryna Bondarenko, Alona Bondarenko and Olga Savchuk. However, this figure includes both singles and doubles matches.
Ukraine also defeated Italy for the first time, doing so on their sixth meeting. The Ukrainian team also ended Italy's eight-match unbeaten streak.
Notably, Italy has won the tournament six times, including in the previous two seasons.
First final
Ukraine's national team will play in the Billie Jean King Cup final for the first time. They will face the Czech Republic, 11-time champions of the tournament.
The Ukraine-Czech Republic matchup begins Sunday, September 27, at 12 p.m. Kyiv time.
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