COMING off a huge WTA Finals in both the singles and doubles formats, world number four Jasmine Paolini did not slow down when representing her nation in the Billie Jean King Cup overnight. The Italian star steered Italy to a 2-1 victory over Japan, picking up straight sets wins in both the singles and doubles to secure a spot in the semi-finals.

After Japan’s Ena Shibahara caused a come-from-behind upset over Elisabetta Cocciaretto, last year’s runners-up were on the ropes. Needing to win both the remaining ties, the talented Paolini stepped up to the plate. Taking on the 56th ranked Moyuka Uchijima, Paolini showed why she had reached the WTA semi-finals and entered the Top 5 in the world with a 6-3 6-4 win in 75 minutes.

Paolini hit 20 winners to eight and only two more unforced errors (26-24), while registering superior first and second serve win percentages of 77 and 58. She also saved both break points she faced, while converting half of her eight chances secure the win comfortably.

“I think I was balanced with the focus and nerves,” Paolini said. “It wasn’t easy for me to enter down 0-1. But I think I played a good match. I’m trying to not think about how many matches I played this season. I tried to have the energy today. “Of course it helps to have the bench full of the team supporting us.”

Paolini then joined WTA Finals partner and former Top 5 player Sara Errani in the doubles and produced an identical scoreline over Japanese pair Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi. The match lasted one more minute than Paolini’s singles with another 6-3 6-4 victory to book the European nation’s spot in the final four.

Italian captain Tathiana Garbin said she was thrilled to get through the tie after it had not been easy.

“Japan is a tough cookie, as you say in English”, Garbin said. “They played with a lot of courage so it was fun to watch this kind of level. My players, they played unbelievable doubles, so we made it.”

Heavy underdogs, Japan can be pleased it forced a deciding third match which occurred after Shibahara’s thrilling 3-6 6-4 6-4 triumph over Cocciaretto. The world number 135 upset the 54th ranked Cocciaretto in two hours and 44 minutes. Shibahara hit 21 winners to 17 in an error-riddled match that saw the Japanese hope marginally better with 55 unforced errors to 58.

“It was really frustrating not being able to convert those break points in the beginning”, Shibahara said. “I think sometimes I let my emotions get ahead of me a little bit, and I think that cost me some games on my serves, as well. During the first-set break, I was trying to just stay positive and kind of turn it into a positive mindset of ‘I have chance, that means I can come back’. And that’s exactly what I did.”