Italy advanced to the Davis Cup Finals championship match following a dramatic victory by Flavio Cobolli, who prevailed after a 32-point tie-break against Belgium‘s Kimmer Coppejans. The win secured Italy’s place in the final adn continued a strong showing on home soil in Bologna.
The Davis Cup Finals have seen limited participation from top-10 ranked players this year, sparking debate about the tournament’s future format. Jannik Sinner, a key member of italy’s recent Davis Cup triumphs in 2022 and 2023, prioritized recovery during the off-season following his ATP Finals victory.Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini have been instrumental in Italy’s success, expressing their pride in representing the host nation. Both players have capitalized on the energy of the home crowd, securing 2-0 victories in their respective matches this week.
The atmosphere in Bologna’s SuperTennis Arena was electric throughout the quarter-final against Austria and reached fever pitch as Cobolli battled for the win. He initially faced match points on Coppejans’ serve, but the Belgian saved two with clutch serving to level the set at five games apiece.
Cobolli demonstrated resilience, saving four break points in the deciding set to reach the tie-break. The ensuing tie-break was a back-and-forth affair,with both players exchanging opportunities and maintaining a high level of play despite the mounting pressure. Ultimately, Coppejans hit a shot wide, giving Cobolli his seventh match point, which he converted with a powerful first serve, sparking celebrations from the Italian team and fans.
