Italy claimed their first Billie Jean King Cup title in 11 years as Jasmine Paolini wrapped up a 2-0 win over Slovakia in Malaga.
Paolini, who has loved a breakthrough 2024 season, was a part of the Italian workforce that completed runners-up to Canada 12 months in the past.
The world quantity 4 received 6-2 6-1 towards Rebecca Sramkova after Lucia Bronzetti had put Italy forward with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Viktoria Hruncakova within the first singles match.
“I at all times dreamed about this trophy,” stated Bronzetti, who was taking part in simply her second singles match within the competitors.
“We’re the world champions, we might be a lot happier. It’s a dream of all of ours and we’re so proud.”
Italy, who will earn $2.4m (£1.9m) in prize cash for profitable their fifth title, have turn into a tennis powerhouse just lately, with the lads’s workforce – led by world primary Jannik Sinner – profitable its first Davis Cup in 47 years in 2023.
“I believe it is an unbelievable yr for Italian tennis and it is so good for our sport in our nation,” Paolini instructed reporters.
“We’ve got loads of followers of tennis in Italy now, tennis is rising rather a lot.”
Captain Tathiana Garbin stated: “It is a dream come true. I’ve such nice champions, nice gamers, and nice human beings.
“I’m so pleased with them. They struggle day by day.”
Slovakia, who knocked Nice Britain out on Tuesday, had been taking part in of their first remaining since they received the event in 2002.
