Iga Swiatek outlasts Jasmine Paolini to send Italy vs. Poland BJK Cup semifinal to deciding doubles

The only two Top 10 players in the year-end WTA rankings competing at this week's Billie Jean King Cup Finals put on a show in Monday's semifinals, as world No. 2 Iga Swiatek outlasted world No. 4 Jasmine Paolini in a tense 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 second rubber to send the tie to a third and deciding doubles match.

Paolini had won a combined nine games in three previous matches against Swiatek, having never won a set, but came out swinging in pursuit of a second singles win representing Italy this week. She won four straight games from a break down to steal the first set to put Italy on the precipice of putting the four-time Billie Jean King Cup champions into the championship tie.

But Swiatek, who beat former world No. 2 Paula Badosa in Poland's clincher against Spain, and posted two wins against the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals, to get Poland to the semifinals, had other plans, despite consistent pressure from the Italian. Swiatek saved 13 of the 16 break points she faced in the more than two-and-a-half-hour tilt, including all five in the second set, to eventually turn the match around.

She came through with clutch play late in each set. After denying Paolini three break points at 1-1, and two at 2-2, Swiatek broke serve for the first time since 2-2 in the first set to send the match the distance. Later, after seeing Paolini draw even in the third set from 3-1 behind, Swiatek's continued easy service holds put pressure on Paolini serving second.

The two-time Grand Slam finalist eventually cracked in the match's final game, losing serve from 30-15 up to put the match in Swiatek's pocket.

Earlier, Lucia Bronzetti defeated Magda Linette in straight sets 6-4, 7-6(3) to put Italy ahead 1-0 in the tie. Bronzetti, the world No. 78, had never before played a Billie Jean King Cup singles match, but regrouped after letting Linette level the second set at 4-4 from 4-1 up, and twice being a game away from a third set.