The great escape led by Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani as Italy reach third straight Billie Jean King Cup Final

A very familiar sight as Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani led from the front for Italy as they found their way past Ukraine to reach the finals again at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Shenzhen.

The experienced unit will face either US or Great Britain later this weekend and albeit they were widely troubled by the team led by Marta Kostyuk and Elina Svitolina, it was very much an experience in this format won the day kind of job.

Errani and Paolini put the icing on the cake as they managed to bounce past Marta Kostyuk and Lyudmyla Kichenok. A 6-2, 6-3 triumph means they become the first nation to reach three consecutive Billie Jean King Cup Finals since Czechia in 2016.

Ukraine already made history by making their maide semi-final but it was Errani and Paolini who showed their prowess in the doubles. All the way through their golden run, Kostyuk and Svitolina in particular used it to reference the need for such moments of happiness as they continue to deal with the onset of the war back home and they have managed to bring a strong front to this event.

For a long time, they looked to even make the final. But Paolini in particular showed why she is so valuable in this event. She was staring down the barrel of defeat against Svitolina going a set and 4-2 down before a break of serve saw the Italian somehow breathe new life into it. She started a stunning fightback and somehow won the second set.

Svitolina looked to seize momentum again as she broke Paolini to level at 4-4 in the third however the Italian emerged in the end in an improbable win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 to keep their hopes alive. Paolini has lost to Svitolina at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros this year so managing to do it while representing your country is very much the next best thing when it comes to a revenge run. Paolini led 6-4, 4-1 in the opposite of what she had today before having to succumb as Svitolina saved three match points and ran away with the win.

Marta Kostyuk prior to Svitolina had delivered her job. In the opening singles rubber she outplayed Elisabetta Cocciaretto to win her 10th Billie Jean King Cup match in 13 games. She broke early and repeated that feat again later in the first set to win it in just 41 minutes. Kostyuk had more than enough to seal it 6-2, 6-3 from there on.

But she decided to put herself in for the doubles and it was a pretty simple win for the nation as Italy will now play US led by Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro or perhaps a more simpler mission in Great Britain. They don't have Emma Raducanu but have the next best players in Boulter and Kartal and they face off on Saturday for a spot in the finals. Either way Italy will be one tough nut to crack in Shenzhen.

Match Statistics Errani S / Paolini J vs. Kichenok L / Kostyuk M