Bronzetti beats Hruncakova to give Italy 1-0 lead over Slovakia in BJK Cup final
The Italian breezed past Viktoria Hruncakova 6-2, 6-4 to put Italy 1-0 up against Slovakia in Malaga
Luca Bronzetti, Linz, 2024 © Gepa / Panoramic
Lucia Bronzetti brushed aside the challenge of Viktoria Hruncakova, beating the Slovak 6-2, 6-4 to hand Italy a precious 1-0 lead after the first match of the Billie Jean King Cup final in Malaga.
The pair exchanged breaks across the opening two games before Bronzetti struck again in the third and then found a hold in the fourth to nudge into an early lead.
An agonising net call for Hruncakova handed the Italian the double break in the seventh game, with Bronzetti comfortably serving out for a one-set lead a game later.
Another early break for the Italian world No 78 was again instantly erased by some fierce returning from the big-hitting Hruncakova at the start of the second set. It was the Slovakian who then surged into a 4-2 lead before being pegged straight back by Bronzetti.
From there, the Italian sprinted to the finish line, breaking for a sixth and final time in the ninth game before serving out a thoroughly impressive win to get her country off to the perfect start in their hunt for a fifth Billie Jean King Cup title.
Next up, world No 4 Jasmine Paolini will take on in-form Rebecca Sramkova in an attempt to win Italy the title at the first time of asking.
