Last year’s runners-up Italy qualified for the semi-finals of the BJK Cup by beating Japan 2-1, thanks to the team’s leader. Jasmine Paolinion Saturday in Malaga. The Italians continue their quest for a fifth trophy. In the semi-finals, they will face either the Poles, led by world No.2 Iga Swiatek, or the Czechs, who meet later this afternoon.

Ena Shibahara, ranked 135th in the world, gave Japan their first point by beating Elisabetta Cocciaretto, ranked 54th, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. But Jasmine Paolini (4th), a finalist at Roland-Garros and Wimbledon this year, put the two teams back on level terms by beating Moyuka Uchijima (56th), 6-3, 6-4.

Paolini was broken from the outset, but quickly corrected the situation by taking her opponent’s first set in turn, before flying away in the first set, which ended in a tiebreak. At the start of the second set, the Italian took the Japanese’s serve, but then conceded her own. Neck-and-neck with Uchijima until 4-4, Paolini finally broke and cruised to victory.

The Italian, revelation of the year 2024 with Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, returned to the court shortly afterwards to play the decisive doubles with Sara Errani (105th), against the pair Shuko Aoyama-Eri Ozumi. The Italian duo easily clinched the qualification point for their team with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.