Elisabetta Cocciaretto handed Italy a decisive 3-1 win against Romania in Cluj-Napoca securing the visitors a spot in the 2022 Billie Jean King Cup by BNP Paribas Qualifiers.
Elena Gabriela Ruse came back from one set down to Jasmine Paolini 1-6 6-3 6-4 in the first match of the second day. Paolini got two breaks in the fourth and sixth games to win the opening set. Ruse went up a double break in the fourth and sixth games to open up a 5-1 lead. Paolini pulled one break back in the seventh game for 2-5, but Ruse served out the second set at 5-3 after a forehand error from Paolini.
Ruse started the third set with an early break at 30 after Paolini hit a backhand into the net. Paolini missed two break points in the second game before a streak of four consecutive breaks. Ruse broke serve with two forehands to open up a 4-1 lead. Paolini pulled one of the two breaks back at love for 2-4. Ruse got her third break in the seventh game to open up a 5-2 lead. Paolini broke back at deuce in the eighth game, but Ruse served out the win on her second match point in 2 hours and 32 minutes.
Paolini replaced tired Martina Trevisan, who pushed herself to the limit in her three-hour and seven-minute win over Buzarnescu.
In the second singles match Elisabetta Cocciaretto battled past Mihaela Buzarnescu 7-5 7-6 (7-5). Cocciaretto went up a break at 4-2 and 5-3, but Buzarnescu pulled both breaks back to draw level to 5-5. Cocciaretto won 8 of the next nine points breaking serve in the 12th game to claim the second set 7-5.
Buzarnescu earned a break in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead, but Coccaretto broke straight back to draw level to 3-3.
At 4-3 0-40 Cocciaretto missed four break points, which would have earned a chance to serve for the match. Cocciaretto went a 4-1 lead in the tie-break, but Buzarnescu got the second break back to draw level to 5-5. Cocciaretto won the final two points to clinch the tie-bteak 7-5 after Buzarnescu made two unforced errors after 2 hours and 42 minutes.
“We needed such a victory. I had a great desire to honour the colours of my country, the special Italian shirt. Cocciaretto’s victory is an exceptional result. We are thinking about the group. We are thinking about building for the future, and this is the most important thing”, said Italian captain Tathiana Garbin.
