Paolini's Italy beats Slovakia to win Billie Jean King Cup

MALAGA, Spain — Italy won the Billie Jean King Cup for the fifth time as Jasmine Paolini beat Rebecca Sramkova to secure a dominant 2-0 win over Slovakia on Wednesday.

World No 4 Paolini triumphed 6-2,6-1 in the second singles rubber to follow up Lucia Bronzetti's 6-2, 6-4 victory against Viktoria Hruncakova.

Italy was runner-up to Canada in last year's final, but went one better in Malaga, southern Spain, to become world champion for the first time since 2013.