Málaga. World number one Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini won their matches on Saturday in front of a supportive crowd as defending champion Italy returned to the Davis Cup final with a 2-0 victory over Australia.
Sinner extended his winning streak in singles sets to 24 with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over world number nine Alex de Minaur. This after Berrettini recovered to defeat Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5.
“Hopefully this gives us confidence for tomorrow,” said Sinner, who is now 9-0 against de Minaur.
Italy will face the Netherlands, which reaches the final for the first time, on Sunday for the title. The Dutch followed up their victory over Rafael Nadal and Spain in the quarterfinals by eliminating Germany in Friday’s semifinals.
Italy, which beat Australia in last year’s final, is attempting to become the first country to win the Davis Cup twice in a row since the Czech Republic in 2012 and 2013. Italy’s women won this year’s Billie Jean King Cup by defeating to Slovakia in Malaga on Wednesday.
The trip, which was much shorter for Italian fans than for Australian fans, meant the 9,200-seat arena will almost entirely support Italy. In the Berrettini duel, repeated chants of “Italy!” and ”Olé, olé, olé, olé! Matte’! Matte’!” amplified by megaphones and accompanied by drums and trumpets. Chair umpire James Keothavong repeatedly asked spectators to stop whistling as Kokkinakis served.
“We are in Spain,” Kokkinakis said, “but it felt like we were in Italy.”
Of course, Sinner received the same kind of support, although perhaps he didn’t need it as much with the way he has played all year, including the title at the ATP Finals last week.
“It is an honor, it is a pleasure, to have Jannik with us,” said Italian captain Filippo Volandri.
The biggest intrigue on Saturday on the indoor hard court of the José María Martín Carpenta Sports Palace in southern Spain came in Berrettini against Kokkinakis.
Berrettini, runner-up at Wimbledon in 2021, needed to put aside the way he lost the first set, wasting three opportunities to finish it. He won the final three games of the match, breaking to lead 6-5, and closed the match with his 14th ace after two hours and 44 minutes.
The powerful Berrettini, who has been ranked as high as No. 6 in the world and is currently No. 35 after missing parts of the last two seasons due to injuries and illness, sat out two of this year’s four major tournaments and lost in the second round in each of the other two.
But when he is healthy, he is among the best tennis players in the world, capable of serving quickly and hitting powerful forehands. He controlled much of the match against No. 77 Kokkinakis, who was the 2022 Australian Open men’s doubles champion with Nick Kyrgios and helped his country overcome the United States in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
Berrettini earned the first break to lead 6-5 in the first set and was one point away while serving at 40-30. Kokkinakis saved that point through a 21-shot exchange that ended with Berrettini sending a forehand long, and then ended up breaking again when the Italian missed again with that shot.
Ahead 6-4 in the tiebreaker, Berrettini had two more chances to win the set. But Kokkinakis, who saved four match points against Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals, saved one with a brave backhand winner down the line and the other with a 130-mile-per-hour ace, part of a four-point streak for close that set.
“It wasn’t easy to digest… because I had a lot of opportunities,” Berrettini said.
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#Sinner #Berrettini #triumphs #Italy #Davis #Cup #final
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Here are two PAA (Personal Application Assignment) related questions for the provided interview:
## An Interview Exploring Italy’s Triumph in the Davis Cup
**Host:** Welcome back to World Today News, and thank you for joining us. Today, we’re dissecting a thrilling match that secured Italy’s place in the Davis Cup final. With us are [Guest 1 Name], a tennis commentator and analyst, and [Guest 2 Name], a former professional tennis player and Davis Cup veteran.
**I. Sinner’s Dominance and Berrettini’s Comeback**
**Host:** Let’s start with a knockout performance from Jannik Sinner, extending his winning streak to 24 singles sets. [Guest 1], how impressive is this run by Sinner, and does it signal a changing guard in men’s tennis?
**Guest 1:**
**(Response dependent on Guest 1’s expertise and perspective).**
**Host:** [Guest 2], Matteo Berrettini faced a tougher challenge against Thanasi Kokkinakis, needing a comeback to secure victory. How important was that win for Italy, especially given the close nature of the match?
**Guest 2:**
**(Response dependent on Guest 2’s perspective on the Berrettini-Kokkinakis match and its significance).**
**II. The Impact of Home Support**
**Host:** The article mentions the deafening support for Italy in Malaga. [Guest 1], how much of an advantage can a passionate home crowd be in a high-stakes Davis Cup tie?
**Guest 1:**
**(Response analyzing the psychological impact of crowd support in tennis, using examples to illustrate the point).**
**Host:** [Guest 2], you’ve experienced the energy of Davis Cup crowds firsthand. Does the atmosphere in Malaga seem comparable to other Davis Cup battles you’ve witnessed?
**Guest 2:**
**(Response drawing on personal experience and comparing it to the atmosphere described in Malaga).**
**III. Look Ahead: Italy vs. the Netherlands**
**Host:** Italy now faces the Netherlands in the final. This is a historic moment for the Dutch team, their first-ever Davis Cup final. [Guest 2], what are your thoughts on the matchup, and what aspects will be crucial for Italy to secure victory?
**Guest 2:**
**(Response analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of both teams and identifying key factors that could determine the outcome).**
**Host:** [Guest 1], the Netherlands has shown remarkable resilience and talent in this tournament. Do you see them posing a serious challenge to Italy’s title defense?
**Guest 1:**
**(Response evaluating the Dutch team’s chances and their potential to upset Italy).**
**IV. Italy’s Tennis Legacy**
**Host:** This year has been remarkable for Italian tennis, with successes both in the Davis Cup and in the Billie Jean King Cup. [Guest 1], what does this double triumph signify for Italian tennis on a global scale?
**Guest 1:**
**(Response analyzing the impact of these successes on Italian tennis and its future prospects).**
**Host:** Thank you, [Guest 1] and [Guest 2] for sharing your insights on this exhilarating Davis Cup journey for Italy. We wish them the best of luck in the final.
**[End of Interview]**
