BILLIE JEAN KING CUP

September 25, 2026

Tathiana Garbin

Jasmine Paolini

Sara Errani

Elisabetta Cocciaretto

Team Italy

Press Conference

ERRANI-PAOLINI/Guo-Jiang

6-3, 5-7, 6-3

Team China - 1

Team Italy - 2

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations, Italy. Through to yet another semifinal. How do you guys do it?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I don't know. Just fighting every ball and trying to make the point. It's easy to say, but I think everybody today put an effort. We got the win. We are really happy.

Was a really tough one against China, a really strong team, in their home country. We are I think really happy.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Tathiana, could you just compare playing against China this year compared to playing against them last year? What were the differences in the team? It was a close one last year.

CAPTAIN GARBIN: Well, same tie, same country, but different players. Was a very tough one, even the last time. This one especially with all these player, they play unbelievable tennis. I was proud to be there and watching this level of tennis.

I'm proud of my players and the effort they give today. Just proud of them.

Q. Jasmine, five sets today. I'm guessing you're pretty tired.

JASMINE PAOLINI: I don't know how the guys do it in the Grand Slams (smiling).

Was tough. You have to play after half an hour. Was tough. But I think the team, the competition, give me the energy.

Yeah, was a tough doubles. We didn't play doubles quite a long time. We are happy I think with the result. Maybe we can improve a little bit the performance.

But I think in the important moments in the third set we did a great job.

Q. Can you describe the atmosphere of facing the Olympic champion in China with the home crowd, 10,000 people cheering for her?

JASMINE PAOLINI: It was great to have so many people watching us. Of course, they cheer for Qinwen. I think it's great for our sport, as well. I hope they enjoy the match. I'm really happy also that we have few Italians fans, as well, from the last year. Hopefully the Chinese fans will cheer for us in the next one.

Q. Sara, it's very late when you start. You've had to watch your teammates play. How do you keep a level head to go into a deciding doubles match like that?

SARA ERRANI: Yeah, is not easy. Was a long day. We just fight. We just fight every point in every match, Elisabetta, Jasmine, the doubles now. It's so late now. So tired.

Was not easy. Couldn't play my best. At the end I was like really tired. Couldn't be really focused with my head.

I tried to stay there and fight for Italy, for our team, for all the person that are in our team that help us every day and are here for us. We need to do our best, of course, always.

Q. Jasmine, you had a very close match with Qinwen. You had a lot of spin in terms of the selection of your shots. Do you have any technical changes? How do you comment on your opponent for the two matches?

JASMINE PAOLINI: I think I had the ideas very clear today on court. It's always tough to play against Qinwen. She's serving incredible.

But I think today I managed to serve well, as well, to return aggressive, when I had the chance, trying to play aggressive. I think that was the key. Of course, then a little bit of luck in the tiebreak.

But she's a great player, so I'm really, really happy about my performance because a lot of respect for her. It's never easy to play against her.