Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini played pivotal roles in propelling Italy to the semifinals of the Davis Cup, showcasing their exceptional form and teamwork on Thursday. Sinner, the world number one, proved his mettle by excelling in both singles and doubles, helping the defending champions edge Argentina 2-1 in Malaga. This victory sets up a highly anticipated semifinal clash against Australia, who earlier overcame the United States in a tightly contested tie.
Sinner, who has had a phenomenal season, including winning his first two Grand Slam titles and dominating the ATP Finals without dropping a set, cruised past Argentina's Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-1. However, Argentina had leveled the tie earlier when Francisco Cerundolo defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1 in the opening singles match. The decisive doubles match saw Sinner team up with Matteo Berrettini to edge past the Argentine duo of Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez 6-4, 7-5. Berrettini, praising his partner, stated, "It’s a different feeling when you step on court and can enjoy playing with the best player in the world."
Italy’s consistent performance marks their third consecutive Davis Cup semifinal appearance, reinforcing their status as strong contenders to defend their title. Sinner’s remarkable contributions, combined with Berrettini's clutch play, have cemented their position as the team to beat.
Meanwhile, Australia defeated the United States in a dramatic quarterfinal. Thanasi Kokkinakis clinched the opening singles match in an epic 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 (16/14) victory against Ben Shelton. Though Taylor Fritz leveled the tie by defeating Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4, the Australian doubles pair of Matthew Ebden and Jordan Thompson secured a 6-4, 6-4 victory to send their team through. Kokkinakis, reflecting on his marathon tiebreak, remarked, “I don’t know if I’ve been that pumped up in my life.”
Australia, last crowned Davis Cup champions in 2003, will now seek to avenge their defeat to Italy in last year’s final. Their veteran captain, Lleyton Hewitt, emphasized the challenge, stating, “We’ll be up for it, but it won’t be easier than last year.” The tournament remains unpredictable, with thrilling matches still to come.
blogpay
Total Comments: 0