Never two without three for Italy? Victorious in the last two editions, the Squadra Azzurra is only one victory away from adding its name to the Davis Cup list for the third year in a row. Friday, in the first semi-final, contested in a white-hot hall 37 of the Bologna Exhibition Center and entirely devoted to the cause of these Transalpines on course to lift the trophy at home this time (Editor’s note: They had been crowned in Malaga in 2023 as in 2024), the double title holders pushed Belgium out of their way (2-0), the executioner of the Blues three days earlier.
Filippo Volandri’s players did not even need to go through the decisive doubles to reach the final for the third year in a row. However, if Matteo Berrettini had not really had any problems getting rid of Raphaël Collignon, what’s more without losing a single set (6-3, 6-4), in the first singles, Flavio Cobolli, he went through all the emotions during a completely crazy match afterwards against Zizou Bergs (6-3, 6-7, 7-6) before being able to offer their ticket to a new final to these incredible Italians.
When Cobolli emerges victorious from an anthology decisive game!
Overjoyed after winning this more decisive game than ever (Editor’s note: The second set had already been decided in the tie-break, this time with the last word for Bergs) with the improbable score of 17 to 15 at the end of his… ninth match point, the 22nd in the world tore off his t-shirt in joy after his victory. The unfortunate Belgian, for his part, could only curse the numerous opportunities he too had had to conclude this game and thus put the two teams back on level terms before the doubles.
This anthology tie-break after more than three hours of a sumptuous show between the two men finally decided to reward Cobolli. On Sunday in the final, Italy will try to achieve the treble at the expense of Spain or Germany. However, it seems that nothing new can happen to this still dazzling Squadra Azzurra on Friday. Especially in front of his passionate supporters and at home.
