By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, September 24, 2026
Photo credit: World Tennis/Billie Jean King Cup
Overshadowed by a couple of ball kids, 5’4” Jasmine Paolini continues to thrive as an Italian colossus.
Paolini defeated Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 7-6(4) to level Italy with China in today’s Billie Jean King Cup quarterfinals.
Then Paolini and partner Sara Errani dispatched Guo Hanyu and Jiang Xinyu 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 clinching Italy’s 2-1 victory over host China at Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena in Shenzhen, China.
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On match point, Paolini smacked a forehand down the middle ending a two-hour, 14-minute doubles duel in a match that ended at 12:55 a.m. local time.
Defending BJK Cup champion Italy scored its eighth straight win to advance to its fourth consecutive Billie Jean King Cup semifinal with the legendary Hall of Famer herself in attendance.
“It’s just amazing,” Paolini said. “I think, you know, when we saw the draw again against China we realized it’s so tough one more time to play the home team.
“It’s always tough and this year it was maybe even tougher. I think we did an amazing job. I think it was an amazing show today. I’m glad. It’s late, but the fans are still here. I feel all the support even if we played against China—sorry guys.”
Italy will play Ukraine in Saturday’s semifinals. The winner will advance to to the Billie Jean King Cup final on Sunday against either 11-time champion Czechia or Spain, which will contest its first semifinal in 18 years.
Anhelina Kalinina led Ukraine to a 2-1 quarterfinal win over Belgium. Kalinina rallied past Jana Otzipka 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-1 in the opening match. After Greet Minnen toppled Elina Svitolina 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-4 to level the tie, Kalinina and Lyudmyla Kichenok defeated Magali Kempen and Lara Salden 6-3, 6-3 to send Ukraine into the semifinals.
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Zhang Shuai throttled Elisabetta Cocciaretto 6-0, 6-2 in the opening match, staking China to a 1-0 lead—and setting the stage for Paolini’s heroics.
Two-time Slam finalist Paolini said the secret to the two-time defending champion’s success is simple: Show up and fight hard.
“We won two times, every time it’s so special,” Paolini said. “Everytime it’s a pleasure to be here to fight for our team and for our country.
“I think our secret is we show up every time. We are here fighting every ball.”
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The Italian duo led by a set and a break at 6-3, 4-2, but the Chinese side responded to the deficit with their most assertive play of the match.
China broke Errani’s serve to get back on serve. Empowered by Jiang’s slick swing volley strikes that split the defense down the middle, China held for its third game in a row and a 5-4 lead.
The host side were two points from forcing a third set, but Paolini stood tall with a firm hold to level the second set after 10 games.
The 28-year-old Guo lofted a rainbow lob that swooned and settled inside the baseline in the 11th game. Jiang made some superb stab volleys before Guo crashed net with a backhand drive volley holding for 6-5 and shifting stress right back on the shoulders of Errani, armed with a wispy first serve and second serve that was basically a bluff.
Sporting a white sleeve on her right arm, Errani tried the under-arm serve, but Jiang again answered every challenge with a series of volleys. Jiang sliced off a smash for double set point.
Guo banged a backhand drive down the line handcuffing a net-rushing Errani as China broke again to take the second set and send Shenzhen fans into an eruption of joy.
One set would decide the trip to the semifinals.
China had all the momentum, but Italy pierced that progress immediately. Paolini slid a forehand pass down the line for break point then Jiang dragged a short forehand wide as Italy broke for a 1-0 third-set lead 100 minutes into the match.
The Rolex court-side clock showed 12:25 a.m. as Jiang throttled a flat forehand strike right at Errani, who danced out of the way of the body blow as China gained triple break point. Paolini was not faced by her predicament. The former Wimbledon finalist fought off all three break points then froze her opponents with a forehand lob that touched the sideline and helped her hold for 2-0.
Threading the needle with a forehand pass down the line, Jiang earned a break point for China in the sixth game. Guo hit a heavy return as China cracked Paolini’s serve for 3-All.
Shaking it off, Italy broke right back to edge ahead 4-3. Under duress on serve, Errani again resorted to the under-arm serve. A crafty Errani blocked a backhand volley and tossed in a few moonballs somehow navigating a tricky hold for 5-3.
Paolini pulverized a forehand return down the line for 15-30 on Jiang’s serve. In a down the line test, Errani induced a netted forehand from Jiang for double match point.
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Spinning one final forehand down the middle, Paolini completed a long night’s journey into the semifinals in a match that ended five minutes before the clock struck 1 a.m.
“I couldn’t play my best today,” Errani said. “I tried to stay there and of course thanks to all of our team and all of our fans to stay here at this time.”
Billie Jean King Cup Quarterfinals
At Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre Arena, Shenzhen, China
Italy 2, China 1
Match 3: Sara Errani/Jasmine Paolini (ITA) d. Hanyu Guo/Xinyu Jiang (CHN) 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
Match 2: Jasmine Paolini (ITA) d. Qinwen Zheng (CHN) 6-3, 7-6(4)
Match 1: Shuai Zhang (CHN) d. Elisabetta Cocciaretto (ITA) 6-0, 6-2.
