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Italy defeats Belgium 2-0 in Bologna as Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini secure a Davis Cup final spot, extending Italy’s unbeaten run.
Italy beat Belgium to book spot in Davis Cup final (AP)
Double defending champions Italy triumphed over Belgium with a 2-0 victory on Friday in Bologna, following Flavio Cobolli’s win in a 32-point tiebreak, securing a Davis Cup final against either Spain or Germany.
Former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini defeated Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-4, giving Italy an early lead. Subsequently, team leader Cobolli overcame Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (17/15).
How Italy Beat Belgium?
“It’s really tough to say something about this match,” Cobolli said. “I played for all of my team, my family, and it’s one of the best days of my life.”
The match lasted just over three hours in a noisy Bologna stadium where the 23-year-old Cobolli broke serve only once, in the first set.
Neither player conceded a break point in the second set, which Bergs secured in a tie-break.
Growing increasingly aggressive, the Belgian earned three break points early in the third set and a fourth at 4-4.
However, Cobolli responded each time with supersonic first serves to eliminate the threat and earned two match points in the following game.
The Belgian right-hander saved himself with two aces but failed to convert his fifth break point at 5-5, leading to another tiebreak.
In the tense 32-point tiebreak, Cobolli saved seven match points before clinching victory with a final ace.
“In the five years I’ve been captain, I’ve never seen anything like it,” said captain Filippo Volandri. “This match was incredible; in the end, it was 5 per cent tactics and 95 per cent heart.”
It was Italy’s 13th consecutive successful tiebreak in the Davis Cup, a competition in which it remains undefeated since September 2023.
Italy is competing without Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti.
Spain and Germany will contest the second semi-final on Saturday.
On Thursday, Spain rebounded from one match down to defeat the Czech Republic 2-1, while Germany, led by world number three Alexander Zverev, overcame Argentina by the same scoreline.
(With inputs from Agencies)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes cricket content, havin… Read More
November 22, 2025, 07:13 IST
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