Italy is the latest country to capture the Billie Jean King Cup following a decisive sweep of the USA early Sunday morning. The win also crowns the nation as repeat champions, having come through on top last year as well.
Italy was powered through by stellar performances from Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Sara Errani, and, of course, Jasmine Paolini, among others. Paolini was the star, but the Italian team was dominant, and it kept them ranked at the top of the nation's rankings.
For Paolini, her role in this year's Billie Jean King Cup marks the continuation of a solid year and the peak of her tennis career. However, she isn't alone in representing Italy with mounds of recent success.
There is another Italian star making his own waves. The duo, while never playing together, are simultaneously driving the steering wheel for Italy, and picking up titles and applause along the way. Both are bona fide stars.
Jannik Sinner and Jasmine Paolini make the perfect national star duo
Paolini's rise began last year, when she and her doubles partner Errani started winning titles with consistency. In 2024, the duo won four doubles titles, which included the French Open.
Although each would likely consider their Olympic gold medal in Paris that same summer to be their year's crowning achievement, their partnership has accounted for nine doubles titles; seven of them coming over the past two years.
Paolini and Errani followed up last season's tear with three more titles this year, including a repeat appearance at the French Open, but leaving the event as the runners-up. Paolini has also risen in the WTA rankings in the singles game, currently sitting at No. 8 in the world, but for a time, she was at a career high of No. 4 earlier in the year.
With the 2025 season drawing to a close, Paolini — with Errani also present — helped Italy repeat as Billie Jean King Cup champions, which, although there are a handful of tournaments left to play in the coming months, would be the perfect way to help wind the year down.
Paolini isn't the only Italian drawing significant success (aside from Errani) this year, as Jannik Sinner remains one of the hottest players on the ATP tour right now, and he has been since his three-month suspension following his Australian Open win back in January.
It has virtually been the Jannik Sinner versus Carlos Alcaraz year, considering that, for the most part, the two men are usually the last two standing at any event. Sinner started the year by taking the first Grand Slam in Australia. He returned to the court after the break with back-to-back finals appearances at the Italian Open and French Open.
He eventually broke through, adding to his Grand Slam trophy case with a victory at Wimbledon. Sinner has not missed a single major finals appearance this year, albeit going 1-4, though. Despite his struggles to get past Alcaraz, Sinner is, without question, performing at peak levels right now. Outside of Alacaraz, there doesn't appear to be anyone who can take Sinner out.
For both Sinner and Paolini, each is playing at the top of their game. For Paolini, most of her success has come within the doubles arena, although she does have one singles title to account for this year and last. For Sinner, he's in the realm of Grand Slam or bust.
Nevertheless, Italy sits in a favourable spot these days, and the country's representation on the court is at its finest. Paolini and Sinner continue to make waves, and each is arguably one of the most exciting players to watch on their respective WTA and ATP tours.
Paolini needs only to break through on the singles Grand Slam court. Sinner must find a way to navigate past Alcaraz. Still, at the end of the day, Italy's tennis hopes are in good hands, and the hands of Paolini and Sinner are sure to produce much more success in the future.