Billie Jean King Cup: Italy Is Sadly Dethroned

Italy’s run in the 2026 Billie Jean King Cup comes to an end in the semifinals: In Shenzhen, where the Azzurre were chasing a historic third consecutive title, it was Ukraine that came out on top, winning both singles matches and thus avoiding having to decide the tie in the doubles. The final will therefore be Ukraine vs. the Czech Republic, with matches scheduled for Sunday.

In the first match, the determined Tyra Caterina Grant was unable to put pressure on Anhelina Kalinina, who needed just one break in the first set and one in the second to close out the match 6-3, 6-4 after one hour and twenty-six minutes of play. Jasmine Paolini’s resistance lasted even less time; after helping lead the comeback against China in the quarterfinals, she was defeated 6-2, 6-2 by Elina Svitolina in one hour and four minutes.

No third consecutive title and no seventh title overall, then, for Italy, which also misses out on the final for the first time since 2022 (in 2023, it had reached the final but lost to Canada). Competing for the Billie Jean King Cup will be Ukraine—which had never even reached the final before—and the Czech Republic, which defeated Spain 2-0 in the semifinals and is seeking its seventh title since its separation from Slovakia, its first since 2018.

The Ukrainian team consists of Anhelina Kalinina, Elina Svitolina, Katarina Zavatska, and Lyudmyla Kichenok, led by captain Illya Marchenko. The Czech Republic, led by non-playing captain Barbora Strycova, fields a team consisting of Linda Noskova, Karolina Muchova, Marie Bouzkova, and Sara Bejlek.