Davis Cup, live coverage of today’s Italy – Belgium semifinals

Berrettini: “I made the match difficult, sorry”

“The thoughts are few, there is so much happiness, so much warmth, so much affection and so much desire to fight”, said Matteo Berrettini, after winning his singles match against Belgian Raphael Collignon, the first leg of the Davis Cup semi-final in Bologna.
The match, he continued, “was a bit complicated for me, sorry. But in the end it went well, I fought as usual until the end, using all the energy in my body.
We celebrated but now we support Flavio. I don’t even remember – he concluded – how old I was when I started dreaming of being able to play, I was with my brother and I remember that as children we pretended to be professional tennis players: time passed quickly but these emotions never disappeared”

Soon Cobolli-Bergs

Italy took a 1-0 lead over Belgium in the Davis Cup semifinals which took place in Bologna. In the first singles, Matteo Berrettini actually beat Raphael Collignon in two sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4 in a match lasting one and a half hours. In the second singles – starting shortly after 6pm – Flavio Cobolli, ranked 22nd in the world, will play Zizou Bergs, ranked 43rd in the ATP rankings. If the Italian team is successful, Italy will qualify for Sunday’s final.

Berrettini won 6-3, 6-4

The game opened with a forehand error by Collignon (15-0), a service win by Berrettini (30-0), another serve (40-0). On the first match point Matteo ended the match.

Collignon holds serve

Collignon’s serve game is fast, but now Berrettini can close it out.

Berrettini is one game away from victory

Berrettini maintained his lead and now responded by closing the opportunity.

Big break for Berrettini

A very tough match, once again: Berrettini got to 40-40 with a great backhand and then a superb lob for break point. Volleyball for recess.

Misses past Berrettini, but saves himself

Berrettini struck first, but then exposed himself to Collignon’s forehand passer. The Belgian found a very tricky angle, while Matteo looked little able to stand at the moment. Bad goal drop for Roman, his empty pass was prolonged. Matteo left the ball in, Collignon got a new break point, but Berrettini canceled it out with a fine forehand pass. Serve and forehand on the break for Italy’s lead, winning the serve.

Collignon closed at 0 and took a 3-2 lead

Collignon led in a set for the first time: 3-2, the game was won to nil.

Counterattack for Collignon

A good short ball attempt from Collignon (15-15), well taken by the Belgian on the next point with a forehand. Berrettini pushed aside the line crossing by advancing with his feet inside the field. First break point for Collignon, Berrettini called to defend himself for the first time. Counterbreak with a great pass for Collignon.

Collignon saved himself and stayed behind

Berrettini squandered the ball on the second break, but quickly got another break with a powerful forehand. Collignon canceled with serve and forehand, Berrettini raised himself again with a forehand, then missed a lob. The Belgian rewarded him with a backhand shot into the net. Winning serve for Collignon, returning a forehand for Berrettini in a very long game, then the Belgian closed it out.

Berrettini leads with a score of 2-0

Berrettini attacked with a backhand but was parried by Collignon (15-30). Matteo comes back out with a forehand (30-30), but closes out the game

Straight break for Berrettini in the second set

Berrettini also started very strongly in the second set: two straight break points came, the first missed by a forehand. Collignon returns the favor, crushes it.

Berrettini closed the first set 6-3

Matteo won the first set quite easily: too many mistakes for the Roman, but also more power in his shots, especially his forehand and serve.

Collignon saved the set ball and closed with three second serves

A great response for Berrettini, who strongly earned the first set point (30-40) and played it into the second set point Collignon, who saved himself by forcing and taking risks. The new second winner was from Belgium, who led and closed.

Berrettini dominates serve: 5-2

Ace 205 times for Berrettini in the opening, second ace (30-0), Collignon comes with the middle ball (40-0), another winning serve.

Collignon takes advantage of Berrettini’s mistake: 4-2

Great backhand for Berrettini, then Collignon goes up: bad forehand error for Matteo, ball in mid-wicket (40-30), another forehand error: 4-2.

Bove in the stands in Bologna

Berrettini dominates with his forehand

Berrettini keeps his forehand level at a very high level, deep and heavy. The match closed with an ace, 4-1.

Collignon cancels the zero

Collignon opened the scoring by recovering from 15-30.

Berrettini thumps: 3-0

Berrettini replaced a good shot with a mistake: however, the result was even greater for the Roman, already 3-0.

Berrettini immediately scored a breakthrough goal

Collignon was too shy on serve: Berrettini hit a forehand with the club for 0-30, then straight at the crossroads for 0-40. Two points from the Belgian, but then the mistake: the break.

Berrettini opened serve and closed with an ace

Berrettini opened the match with a forehand error, then a volley for 15-15. Even game: serve and forehand winner for Matteo started with a mistake. Final ace for 1-0 Italy.

Players on the field

Berrettini and Collignon entered the pitch to warm up: it was very hot in Bologna.

There is no precedent between Berrettini and Collignon

This was the first match between Berrettini and Collignon. In front of the number 56 and number 86 ATP.

Italy-Belgium deserved to qualify for the final

Volandri’s team is aiming for its third consecutive final. Berrettini will open, facing Collignon, then Cobolli will try to get revenge on Bergs who beat him in the third set in Bologna a year ago. Most likely, there will be two Bolelli-Vavassori goals against Gillé-Vliegen