Italy’s world number one Jannik Sinner and veteran Matteo Berrettini propelled their team into the Davis Cup final on Saturday, with a commanding 2-0 victory over Australia in Malaga. Sinner, who has been in blistering form throughout the year, triumphed in straight sets over Alex de Minaur, securing the second win after Berrettini’s hard-fought triumph over Thanasi Kokkinakis earlier in the day.
This victory sends Italy, winners in 1976 and 2023, into Sunday’s final where they will face the Netherlands, who made history by reaching their first-ever Davis Cup final after defeating Germany 2-0 on Friday. For Italy, it’s a return to the championship match after their title-winning run in 2023, and they will now be seeking back-to-back triumphs.
Sinner, who is enjoying a stellar 2024 season that includes triumphs at the US Open, Australian Open, and ATP Finals, brought his A-game against de Minaur. Despite some challenges in the second set, the Italian proved his dominance, winning 6-3, 6-4. With this victory, he extended his unbeaten streak against de Minaur to 10-0, including last year’s Davis Cup final.
"It's always a great feeling to play in the Davis Cup, and winning it last year was one of the best moments of my career," said Sinner. "We're excited to be back in the final, but we know it's going to be a tough match. We’ll give it everything we’ve got."
While Sinner was untroubled in the opening set, he faced a tougher challenge in the second. De Minaur, the world number nine, battled hard, saving break points and producing some stunning shots, including a remarkable lob in the sixth game. However, Sinner stayed composed, breaking at a crucial moment to take control and closing out the match in just over an hour and a half.
With the pressure on, Sinner capitalized on his first match point, sending a clinical passing shot past de Minaur, who responded with frustration, throwing his racquet after sending a final shot wide.
Earlier in the day, Berrettini had given Italy an early advantage, overcoming Kokkinakis in a tightly contested match. After losing the first set in a tiebreak, Berrettini showed his resilience, fighting back to claim the next two sets, 6-3, 7-5. His powerful serving and determination in the third set, where he saved two break points before breaking Kokkinakis' serve in the 11th game, proved crucial.
"I’m really happy with the support from the crowd," Berrettini said. "It wasn’t easy after losing the first set, but playing for my country in this atmosphere gave me the strength to keep fighting."
The victory marked a significant moment for Berrettini, who had been sidelined during Italy's Davis Cup title last year due to injury. Now fully fit, he has played a key role in Italy’s successful campaign this year.
Despite the loss, Kokkinakis had an impressive performance, especially following his victory over Ben Shelton, which helped Australia advance past the USA in the quarter-finals. However, Australia's bid for a first Davis Cup title since 2003 fell short once again, as they suffered a third consecutive loss in the final-four stage.
Kokkinakis admitted that the crowd's support seemed almost overwhelming for the Australians, joking, “It felt like we were playing in Italy, not Spain. It was tough, but we gave it everything.”
