Both teams didn't really want to play doubles. Polish women – before the start of the competition, because they were counting on singles victories Magda Linette and Iga Świątek. It happened differently and after Linette's defeat, the White and Reds dreamed that the match would be decided in doubles. The Italians, however, after Bronzetti's win and the first set of the fight between Świątek and Paoloni (3:6), were counting on a decision in singles. Ultimately, there was a doubles competition, and Iga Świątek replaced Magdalena Fręch at the last minute and, just like in the duel with the Czechs, she formed a pair with Katarzyna Kawa. The Polish women fought against this year's Olympic champions: Sara Errani and Jasmine Paoloni.
Świątek and Kawa were leading 5:1. And then there was a drama like no other
The first set was very even. The Poles did not take advantage of a great chance – as many as three balls sets. With the White and Reds leading 5:4, the Italians served and lost 15:40. Then, experienced 37-year-old Sara Errani performed brilliantly at the net in three consecutive actions.
In the next game, the Poles failed again. They were already leading 40:15. After a while, Iga Świątek wasted a simple volley at the net and it was the decisive point. It was won by the Italians after a great return by Paolini. A moment later, Errani won her serve and her opponents enjoyed a 7-5 victory. In this set there was a situation in which the Italians did not show their class. – One bounce, followed by another – everything was clearly visible and it was impossible that you didn't feel it on the racket – during a very important moment of the doubles clash between the Polish and Italian women, our rivals argued with the referee after a brilliant play by Iga Świątek. It was far from fair play – wrote Łukasz Jachimiak, a journalist at Sport.pl.
Already at the opening of the second set, Iga Świątek lost her serve. The second-ranked player in the world ranking played badly tactically in the last action, because she hit Errani's racket, which gave the Italians a breakthrough with an effective volley. However, the Polish team's response was impressive because they won five games in a row! They were a bit lucky with the second break in a row (to 3:1), because Świątek played a forehand, and the ball went to the end line and the Italians were at the net. It seemed that it would go to the 3rd set. The Italians had a different plan, they started playing brilliantly and in response won six games in a row and won the set 7:5. After the triumph, they both fell down on the court with happiness. They did an extraordinary thing because they reversed the set, in which they were losing 1:5!
Italian women in final Billie Jean King Cup will face the winners of the match: Great Britain – Slovakia.