Paolini led Italy to a 2-0 victory over the Slovaks, defeating Rebecca Sramkova to clinch her country's first team victory in over a decade.

The smiling snapshot was accompanied by a heartfelt tribute from Paolini to Nadal, whom she described as a "true inspiration to me and sports fans everywhere."

Paolini and Sara Errani defeated Swiatek and Katarzyna Kawa 7-5, 7-5 in the deciding doubles to put Italy through to the final for the second year in a row.