On Friday in Bologna, Italy extended their Davis Cup dominance this year with a dramatic 2-0 win over Belgium in the Final 8 semifinals. Flavio Cobolli, the team’s rising star ranked world No. 22, edged Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(15) after saving seven match points in a 17-15 final-set tiebreak—the sixth longest in Davis Cup history.
Cobolli, who earlier squandered six match points of his own, ripped off his shirt as he clinched victory. He later comforted a tearful Bergs, who was consoled by his team in the stands. "We fought for our country, for this win, but in the end I realized my dream," Cobolli said. "I played for all of my team, my family, and it’s one of the best days of my life."
The win gave Italy an unassailable lead without needing to contest doubles, building on Matteo Berrettini’s straight-sets victory earlier in the day. Berrettini, a 2021 Wimbledon finalist and holder of 10 tour titles, defeated Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-4 to set up Cobolli’s heroics.
Captain Filippo Volandri praised the team’s resilience. "In my five years as a captain I’ve never seen anything like that. But this is what the Davis Cup does, it was incredible," he said. "At the end, I told Cobolli it’s five percent tactics and 95 percent heart."
Italy now boasts a 13-tie winning streak and will face the winners of Saturday’s semifinal between Germany and Spain—playing without world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz—for the Davis Cup title on Sunday. Young global fans and tennis enthusiasts won’t want to miss what promises to be another thrilling chapter.
Reference(s):
Cobolli sends defending two-time champions Italy into Davis Cup final
cgtn.com
