Svitolina Dismantles Paolini as Ukraine Reaches Its First BJK Cup Final

Ukraine is going to the Billie Jean King Cup final for the first time, and Elina Svitolina delivered the clincher with authority. Facing Jasmine Paolini, who had won 10 consecutive BJK Cup matches while helping Italy to back-to-back titles, Svitolina overwhelmed the Italian #1 6-2, 6-2 in just 63 minutes. She broke Paolini five times, jumped out to early double-break leads in both sets and finished on her first match point with a forehand winner down the line.

Anhelina Kalinina had already put Ukraine in control with a 6-3, 6-4 win over 18-year-old Italian debutant Tyra Grant. Kalinina broke through at 3-3 in the opening set and never surrendered the advantage, improving to 3-0 in Shenzhen after winning both singles and doubles against Belgium in the quarterfinals. This tie never got to a deciding doubles match.