Italian Team Wins Sixth Championship in Prestigious Women’s Tennis Tournament
Italy showcased its current prowess in tennis by clinching the Billie Jean King Cup, the most prestigious women’s team tennis tournament globally.
The Tournament and Participants
The Italian team participated in the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Finals held in Shenzhen, China, alongside the United States, Japan, Ukraine, Spain, the United Kingdom, Kazakhstan, and China as the host nation. The final took place on September 21, 2025.
Italy’s Triumph Over the United States
Italy defeated the United States 2-0 in the final, thanks to singles victories by Jasmine Paolini over Jessica Pegula and Elisabetta Cocciaretto’s win against Emma Navarro. No doubles match was needed.
Italy’s Impressive Record
With this victory, Italy reached six Billie Jean King Cup titles and became the fourth most successful nation in the tournament’s history, trailing only the United States (18), Czech Republic (11), and Australia (7).
Moreover, this was Italy’s second consecutive title, having previously won the 2009 and 2010 editions. They repeated their 2024 triumph, when they defeated Slovakia with Paolini as a key player alongside Lucia Brozetti.
Italy’s Billie Jean King Cup titles span the years 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2024, and 2025. In the latest edition, they surpassed China in quarters (2-0), Ukraine in semifinals (2-1), and the United States in the final (2-0).
Player Reactions and Team Composition
Jasmine Paolini’s Reflections:
“I still can’t believe it. It’s incredible to show how hard we fight on the court and strive to give our best,” said Jasmine Paolini, currently ranked eighth in the WTA. “Playing for the national team is something I’ve always dreamed of.”
“I hope many girls start playing tennis. I believe tennis in Italy is growing a lot, and I hope we inspire some girls.”
Besides Paolini and Cocciaretto, the Italian team included Sara Errani, Lucia Brozetti, and Caterina Grant, with Tathiana Garbin as the captain. Errani became one of only seven players in the tournament’s history to achieve five titles.
Economic Impact
Italy received $2 million for this championship, which was distributed among each player.
The United States secured the runner-up position and $1.3 million, which was shared among Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, McCartney Kessler, Hailey Baptiste, and Taylor Townsend. Lindsay Davenport led the US team as captain.
Lindsay Davenport’s Comments
“I believe everyone who supported the US team was very focused on the objective, but sometimes you fall short,” Davenport said about Pegula and Navarro. “Sometimes, the other team simply plays better. They both played well today.”
Tournament Context and Upcoming Events
The Billie Jean King Cup Finals took place a few weeks after the conclusion of the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the season.
Simultaneously, this weekend saw the WTA Tour’s women’s circuit celebrate the WTA 500 tournament in Seoul, where Poland’s Iga Swiatek claimed victory over Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova, securing her 25th title.
The coming weeks will be intense on the WTA Tour, with consecutive category 1000 tournaments in Beijing and Wuhan before concluding the season with the WTA Finals in Saudi Arabia.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who won the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup? Italy defeated the United States 2-0 in the final.
- How many titles does Italy have in the Billie Jean King Cup? Italy has won six titles.
- Who were the key players for Italy in this victory? Jasmine Paolini and Elisabetta Cocciaretto secured singles victories.
- What does this win mean for Italian tennis? Jasmine Paolini expressed hope that many girls will start playing tennis, inspired by Italy’s success.
- How much prize money did Italy receive for winning the tournament? Italy received $2 million, which was distributed among its players.
- Who captained the US team and what was their reaction to the loss? Lindsay Davenport led the US team and acknowledged Italy’s strong performance.
