United Cup: Paolini, Cobolli script Italian victory over Switzerland

Paolini scores first win over Belinda Bencic in three career meetings

Jasmine Paolini competes in BJK Cup Finals, 2023 Zuma / Panoramic

December 29, 2024

Italy scored a win over Switzerland at the United Cup on Sunday after Jasmine Paolini and Flavio Cobolli both won their singles matches in straight sets.

Cobolli defeated Dominic Stricker 6-3, 7-6(2) to give the Italians a 1-0 win. “Of course, I think I played a really good match,” Cobolli said as quoted by the United Cup website. “It’s always a great thing to play with the flag of Italy on the heart, with some friends on the bench, with my dad on the bench. It’s always fun and I did great things today for us.”

Paolini, who rose to world No 4 this year after reaching back-to-back Grand Slam finals, the followed that with a comprehensive 6-1, 6-1 win over Belinda Bencic in under an hour to give the Italians the victory. This was Paolini’s first win over the Tokyo Olympics singles gold medallist in three meetings on tour.

In the mixed doubles match, Sara Errani/Andrea vavassori defeated Bencic/Stricker 6-4, 6-4 to complete a 3-0 sweep for the Italians, who will next meet France in Group D on Tuesday.