BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

September 21, 2025

Tathiana Garbin

Jasmine Paolini

Sara Errani

Lucia Bronzetti

Elisabetta Cocciaretto

Tyra Grant

Team Italy

Press Conference

J. PAOLINI/J. Pegula

6-4, 6-2

Team Italy - 2

Team USA - 0

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Team Italy, on defending your title.

Jasmine, can you tell us how happy you are and how it was out there for you today.

JASMINE PAOLINI: It's an unbelievable feeling. Today was a really tough match. We're really happy and proud of ourself, of our team. It's a great day for Italy.

THE MODERATOR: Tathiana, can you share your thoughts as a captain.

CAPTAIN TATHIANA GARBIN: I'm really proud of my player. They play with passion, a lot of personality. All of them, they are a big part of the history.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Jasmine, how did it feel to come out on the court after Elisabetta's performance? Did you take inspiration from that?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yes, I was so happy with the win of Elisabetta honestly (smiling). She did an amazing job, amazing match. Yeah, honestly it's better to step on court when you are 1-0 up. Thank you, Elisabetta.

ELISABETTA COCCIARETTO: You're welcome (smiling).

Q. How much did the experience of winning it last year and having been in the Final before help you this time? You all seemed prepared. Didn't seem to be that many nerves.

JASMINE PAOLINI: Honestly, I thought that was another match with the United States. It was really complicated I think. We did an amazing job.

But honestly, I was thinking just to play my match against Pegula, that she's an amazing player. I was trying to focus on myself and I was hoping not to play doubles after that (smiling).

Q. Sara, this is your fifth title in the Billie Jean King Cup. Only seven women have achieved that before in history. Can you talk to me about what it feels like to do it with this team.

SARA ERRANI: Yeah, it's amazing to be part of this team. I'm so happy we didn't play the doubles today (laughter).

I mean, I think was an amazing week for all of us, for all the team. Playing this kind of competition is always special, so I'm really proud and happy.

Q. Jasmine, the fans in Shenzhen are very passionate. Do you like Shenzhen and do you have any plans after the game eat traditional Chinese food like dim sum?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yesterday I think was the first night we ate dumplings. It worked really well. We played amazing today. So more dumplings for us (smiling). I love dumplings, honestly. We ate dumplings and fried rice.

Shenzhen is an amazing city. I think we really felt comfortable here. Organization, amazing. Really like this competition. We finish in the best way, so really happy about it.

Q. Elisabetta, we all know that China Open is coming. You play in the qualifying match.

ELISABETTA COCCIARETTO: Tomorrow (laughter).

Q. Your opponent is from France. You have never beaten her before. Are you going to celebrate?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Let's be positive, please (laughter).

ELISABETTA COCCIARETTO: Positive vibes.

We celebrate a lot on court. Now I think we will go to Italian restaurant. I have to decide because I also have to sleep some hours, at least, because tomorrow I leave the hotel at 5:30 a.m. to go there.

Anyway, this is our job. I'm trying to do the best. We celebrate, enjoy today, and we will see tomorrow.

Q. Jasmine, what is your impression through the whole journey, what did you learn from this week?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yeah, was really tough. Started the first day, I wasn't feeling that good on court. Match by match, I was feeling better. Today was probably the best match in this competition.

Yeah, I was feeling great today. I think was the key to beat Jessica Pegula because she's very strong. Really happy about the performance.

Q. After the celebration in the court, what happened in the locker room? What took so long?

JASMINE PAOLINI: We sing.

TYRA GRANT: We sung.

JASMINE PAOLINI: We have the English here (laughter), accent teacher, Tyra.

TYRA GRANT: No, yeah, we sang a lot, we danced a lot. We were obviously all very, very happy.

Q. What are some words you want to leave for all the fans?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Just to say thank you to them. They support us a lot. The Italians, of course, but also the Chinese. Was amazing. I think they help us to turn the match with Ukraine. They help us to win this competition, for sure.

We felt I think a bit home here.

Q. Winning two titles in a row is a huge deal. It's creating a legacy for Italian tennis as other great teams from Italy has done. How important does that feel, to inspire the next generation of Italian players?

JASMINE PAOLINI: Yes, it's amazing. I still cannot realize that. It's amazing to show how we fight on court. We try to do our best. I think to play for the national team, it's something that I was watching, I was dreaming to do.

Hopefully many, many girls are going to start to play tennis. I think tennis in Italy is growing a lot. Hopefully we are going to inspire some little girls.