Italy returns to the Davis Cup final after epic battle
Italy, the defending two-time champion, has secured its place in the Davis Cup final after an exciting semi-final. Flavio Cobolli starred in a memorable match against Zizou Bergs of Belgium, with a final score of 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (15), saving seven match points in a dramatic tiebreak. Cobolli, after squandering six opportunities to close out the match, finally secured the victory for Italy. He celebrated effusively with his teammates and then consoled Bergs, who was comforted by his visibly emotional team. The tiebreak of the final set, with a score of 17-15, became the sixth longest in Davis Cup history.Cobolli’s victory secured Italy’s place in the final with an insurmountable 2-0 lead, without the need to play the doubles match. Previously, Matteo Berrettini contributed to the Italian triumph by defeating Raphael Collignon with a score of 6-3, 6-4.We fought for our country, for this victory, but in the end, I realized my dream. I played for my whole team, my family, and it’s one of the best days of my life.
Flavio Cobolli
For Berrettini, Wimbledon runner-up in 2021 and with 10 individual titles in his career, the match was more relaxed. He secured the first set with his serve against Collignon, number 86 in the world. Collignon lost his first service game in the second set, but managed to break back to tie it at 2-2. Berrettini withstood his opponent’s aggressive play and broke to go up 4-3, securing the victory on his first match point. This edition of the Davis Cup Finals 8 is the sixth since the new format was implemented, where the champion is decided at a neutral venue.In my five years as captain, I have never seen anything like this. But this is what the Davis Cup does. It was incredible. In the end, I told Cobolli, it’s 5% tactics and 95% heart.
Filippo Volandri
