Defending champions Italy and a determined Ukraine squad booked their tickets to the semifinals of the prestigious BJK Cup on Thursday in Shenzhen, setting up a high-stakes showdown on the hard courts. The tournament, widely recognized as the women’s equivalent of the men’s Davis Cup, will crown its global champion on Sunday following a week of intense international team tennis.
How Ukraine Outlasted Belgium to Reach the Semifinals
Anhelina Kalinina opened the tie by putting the first point on the board for Ukraine, overcoming a tight first-set tiebreak to defeat Jana Otzipka 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 6-1.
Minnen dropped the opening tiebreak before rallying past the seventh-ranked WTA star 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4 to level the score for the Belgians.
With the tie hanging in the balance, the doubles pairing of Anhelina Kalinina and Lyudmyla Kichenok delivered the clinching point for Ukraine. The duo dispatched Magali Kempen and Lara Salden in straight sets by a matching 6-3, 6-3 scoreline, securing a spot in the next round.
Italy Survives a Host-Nation Scare Against China
The home team struck first on Thursday. Zhang Shuai used roaring local support to dictate the tempo of the opening singles match, overwhelming Elisabetta Cocciaretto in a swift 6-0, 6-2 victory.
The early setback thrust the pressure squarely onto Jasmine Paolini. The 30-year-old former world No. 4 and current WTA No. 20 steadied the Italian ship by battling past Paris 2024 Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen—ranked 52nd—in a tough straight-sets battle, winning 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).
For the second time on the day, a quarterfinal came down to a decisive doubles rubber. Sara Errani joined forces with Paolini to survive a punishing two-hour and fifteen-minute battle against Guo Hanyu and Jiang Xinyu. The veteran Italian pair ultimately ground out a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory to preserve their nation’s title defense.
The Road Ahead: Semifinal Schedule
The tournament bracket now narrows to the final four teams competing for the prestigious international trophy in Shenzhen. The action continues on Friday with the opening semifinal fixture, which pits Spain against the Czech Republic. Following that clash, Italy and Ucrania will square off on Saturday in the second semifinal.
The winners of Friday’s and Saturday’s ties will advance to Sunday’s global final to determine the next nation to lift the trophy.
What are your predictions for this weekend’s semifinals? Join the conversation and leave a comment below.
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