Italy has cemented its status as a tennis powerhouse, securing the Davis Cup for an incredible third year in a row. The Italian team emerged victorious against Spain in a final held in Bologna, a match made more dramatic by the absence of both nations' top-ranked players.
Berrettini's Commanding Start
The final kicked off with a dominant performance from Matteo Berrettini. Facing Spain's Pablo Carreño Busta, the Italian powerhouse delivered a masterclass, winning in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. The match was sealed in just one hour and 18 minutes, during which Berrettini fired an impressive 13 aces past his opponent. After clinching a crucial break in the eighth game of the first set, he maintained his composure to close it out. The second set was a tighter affair, but Berrettini found another vital break late on to put Italy firmly in the driving seat.
Cobolli's Stunning Comeback Seals the Deal
All eyes then turned to Flavio Cobolli, who needed to win his singles match against Jaume Munar to secure the title outright for Italy and avoid a decisive doubles rubber. The contest did not start well for the Italian, as Munar stormed through the opening set 6-1 and even broke Cobolli's serve at the start of the second. However, Cobolli displayed immense resilience, breaking back immediately and eventually levelling the match by taking a tense second-set tie-break 7-6 (5).
The deciding set was a nail-biting affair, with both players holding serve until the critical moment. In the 11th game, Cobolli secured the decisive break of serve. He then coolly served out the match to love, completing a remarkable 1-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5 comeback victory and sparking celebrations for the Italian camp.
Final Played Without Star Names
This year's final was notable for the players who were absent. The Italian squad was without world number two Jannik Sinner, who chose to focus on preparations for the upcoming season. Spain was similarly handicapped, missing the injured world number one, Carlos Alcaraz. Their absence placed the spotlight firmly on the teams' depth, and it was Italy's supporting cast who rose to the occasion magnificently to claim the prestigious trophy.
