Italy back to Davis final with semis singles sweep

Italy made a return to the Davis Cup final on Friday, with Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Cobolli producing singles success to send the holders into a third consecutive title match at the team event.

Rome’s former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini, emerging form several seasons of injury hell, started off the tie with Belgium as he defeated Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-4, in a 96-minute well-balanced match,

Teammate Cobolli finished off the day’s work early as he clinched the winning point through a dramatic 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (15) epic against Zizou Bergs.

“Pressure is a privilege,” the winner said.

“Obviously I feel the pressure, but you’re playing in front of your home country, my whole family is here, we are all great friends in our team.

“It is such a special feeling for me. I take the bad feelings away and just enjoy the moment.”

Italy, missing world No. 2 Jannik Sinner, become the first nation to reach a hat-trick of finals since Australia in 2001.

Berrettini has now won eight consecutive matches in the worldwide team event being played in Bologna with up to 10,000 fans present for the Italy tie…

Berrettini lifted the opening set in half an hour relying heavily on an impressive serve, firing five aces among 20 winners.

A break of the Belgian to open the second set got Berrettini off and running, but her had to recover after dropping serve in the fourth game and breaking back for 4-3.

The Italian served out the victory to lay the groundwork for Cobolli conclude business in the ensuing singles.

He carried that momentum into the next game and produced a spellbinding passage of play to re-establish his break advantage – a topspin backhand lob on the run to create the break point, followed by a deft volley winner to convert it.

The crowd were lapping it all up with chants of “MATTEO” ringing around the arena

When the time came for Berrettini to serve for the match, he made no mistake, closing it out to love.

Italy will on Sunday play the winner from the Spain v Germany Saturday semi-final.