Paolini doubles up to lead Italy into BJK Cup semis

Jasmine Paolini won both her singles and doubles matches to lead Italy into the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals with victory over Japan.

Seeking a first semi-final at the event since 1966, Japan took the lead in the best-of-three tie when Ena Shibahara mounted a comeback to defeat Elisabetta Cocciaretto 3-6 6-4 6-4 in the opening singles match.

But up stepped world number four Paolini to level the tie, swiftly beating 56th-ranked Moyuka Uchijima 6-3 6-4 to force a doubles decider.

French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Paolini then teamed up with Sara Errani, three months after they won Olympic gold together, to beat Japan’s Shuko Aoyama and Eri Hozumi 6-3 6-4.

Italy are four-time BJK Cup champions but lost to Canada in the final of last year’s tournament.

They will play Iga Swiatek’s Poland or the Czech Republic in the semi-finals.