Italy returns to the Davis Cup final after epic battle
Italy, the reigning champion, has secured its place in the Davis Cup final. Flavio Cobolli was the hero by defeating Zizou Bergs of Belgium in a match full of drama. Cobolli won with scores of 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (15), after saving seven match points in a semifinal that kept everyone on the edge of their seats. After squandering six opportunities to close out the match, Cobolli finally secured the victory for Italy. He celebrated effusively with his teammates and then consoled Bergs, who was comforted by his team after the defeat. The final tiebreak of the third 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, without the need to play the doubles match. Previously, Matteo Berrettini had 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
Berrettini’s match was calmer. He secured the first set with his serve and sealed the second set with a shutout game, after withstanding Collignon’s attacks. The Davis Cup Finals 8 marks the sixth edition of the renewed event, where the champion is defined in a neutral venue.In my five years as captain, I had never seen anything like it. 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
