MALAGA – Poland will face Italy in their first-ever Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals on Nov 18 after beating the Czech Republic 2-1 in a hard-fought tie that ended in the early hours of Nov 17.

Czech Marie Bouzkova won the opener against Magdalena Frech 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, and it was up to Iga Swiatek to keep Poland’s chances alive.

The world No. 2, undefeated in the Billie Jean King Cup in the last five years, did just that but was well tested by Linda Noskova, whom she beat 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-5 in a tight encounter that lasted 2hr 39min.

The Pole evened the tie at 1-1 before returning to the court with Katarzyna Kawa for the decider against doubles world No. 1 Katerina Siniakova and Bouzkova.

Swiatek and Kawa then sealed a stunning 6-2, 6-4 victory over the Czechs in 1hr 11min.

“I’m so happy to play with Iga and that we made it. I mean, it’s a really great day, the start of the great day,” Kawa said, as she began her 32nd birthday celebrations on Nov 17.

Five-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek, 23, added: “In 20 minutes I’ll be dead! It was an exhausting day, but everything worked.

“We did a great job, we won. I’m really happy that we won the last one, that’s the most important thing.”

Italy became the first nation through to the last four after they beat Japan 2-1 with a deciding straight-set doubles victory by Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani over Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi earlier on Nov 16.

The tie was locked at 1-1 after French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Paolini beat 56th-ranked Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 6-4 in the second singles match to put the Italians on the board.

Paolini returned for the doubles with Errani, who has five women’s doubles Grand Slam titles to her name. The pair, who won gold at the Paris Olympics, dominated to beat the Japanese duo 6-3, 6-4.

After Japan were 5-1 down in the second set, Aoyama and Hozumi showed great spirit to make it 5-4 but their resistance was short-lived as the Italians sealed the win.

“The strategy was to serve well and try to be aggressive because the game was really fast,” Paolini said. “They played amazing in doubles, it was a really stressful match. But in the end, I’m grateful that we did it as a team.”

The 28-year-old added when asked about playing singles and doubles back to back: “This year I’m a little bit used to it. But I will rest now, I will work with the physios here.”

Earlier, American-born Japanese player Ena Shibahara, ranked 41st in the world, battled back from a set down to beat 54th-ranked Elisabetta Cocciaretto 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Japan were without Naomi Osaka, who called time on her season in October because of injury.

Four-time Billie Jean King Cup champions Italy, who were runners-up to Canada in 2023, last won the title in 2013. REUTERS, AFP