The Italians booked their first final appearance since 2013 thanks to Martina Trevisan and Jasmine Paolini for winning their respective singles matches.
Trevisan was first into action, beating Kaja Juvan 7-6(6), 6-3, while Paolini had more problems against Tamara Zidansek before finally triumphing 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 in two hours, reports Xinhua.
Canada came from behind against the Czech Republic to reach their first-ever final in the tournament.
Barbora Krejcikova won the opening singles match against Marina Stakusic 6-2, 6-1 in one hour and 23 minutes to put the Czechs ahead in the tie.
Canada’s Leylah Fernandez was under pressure for her match against World No. 7 Marketa Vondrousova while claiming the first set 6-2.
Vondrousova took the second set by the same score, but Fernandez kept calm to take the decisive set 6-3 to inflict only the second defeat the Czech player has suffered in her Billy Jean King Cup participation.
Fernandez’s win meant the doubles would be decisive. She made a huge physical effort as she and her partner Gabriela Dabrowski won a close match against Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova 7-5, 7-6(3) to reach their first-ever final.
–Ajit Weekly News
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