Francesca Schito
Italy is one step away from its dream. Despite all the doubts leading up to the match, due to the withdrawals of Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, the Azzurri reached their third successive final. They did so with a testament to the pride and big hearts of Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli, two Roman friends who took their first steps together at Aniene Rowing Club and today find themselves shoulder to shoulder fighting for the blue. With the tricolor on the chest, efforts shared, everyone pushing on the same side, a team feel that all year long only works with its own team, but only one plays on the field. That sense of belonging is what characterizes captain Filippo Volandri’s Italian path. Today in the final (live from 3pm on Rai 1 and SuperTennis) on the other side of the net is Spain, orphaned by Carlos Alcaraz.
David Ferrer’s men defeated Germany thanks to a decisive victory in the doubles, after in the first singles Struff led 6-1 in the second set tie-break against Carreno-Busta and lost 8-6. After winning the first singles event, Zverev brought the game back to par and it was the doubles pairing that gave the Spanish national team through to the final. Therefore, Spain will face Italy, a rivalry that has been very fierce in the last two years thanks to Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz fighting alternately between first and second in the world. These would also be interesting challenges at national level but, for different reasons, none of them are present at the Unipol Arena in Bologna.
Today we will start with the number two to open the match, therefore most likely, Matteo Berrettini and Carreno Busta, then it will be Munar’s turn against Flavio Cobolli and, in the event of a tie after the first two singles, it will be the two doubles pairs – Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori against Spaniards Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez – who will decide which national team will lift the Salad Bowl. Today will be the second Davis final played on home soil by Italy.
The first came in 1998 when Gaudenzi and his teammates were beaten by Sweden in Milan: an epic match between the ATP number one playing a marathon against Magnus Norman with his shoulder crushed. But today is another story. «The only final at home – explained Angelo Binaghi, president of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation to SuperTennis – so far we lost in Milan in 1998, I was there when Gaudenzi was injured. Austria and Belgium have taught us that this event is beautiful because nothing is taken for granted. We would sell our lives dearly, any outcome would be possible. We have players with big hearts, we combine Matteo’s charisma and Flavio’s passion and desire to improve: a combination that can give us further satisfaction.” Italy once again started as favorites and with the support of the public, that dream is now just one step away from becoming a reality.
