The most famous silver trophy in sport sanctified a new golden age tennis blue. A week after Sinner’s victory over Alcaraz in the ATP Finals, Italy without Sinner overtook Spain without Alcaraz and reclaimed Davis’ salad bowl on home soil for the third straight time, a feat no one had accomplished since 1972, when the United States reeled off five straight successes.
Without Jannik Mars, the phenomenon of the new generation is found in the more worldly Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli, the former in his redemption in maturity, the latter in his exploits, the idol of exciting escalation, in the stadium parties experienced at the fairgrounds in Bologna in support of the national team. The lesson is that you can win and you win even without the South Tyrolean (who also flagged fans disappointed by his absence) or another big player who withdrew, Lorenzo Musetti.
In Bologna, Filippo Volandri’s national team did not concede a single goal against its opponents: with Austria, Belgium and finally with Iberia, no double goal was needed to close out the match. Berrettini and Cobolli, who grew up learning to play at the same club in the capital, immediately found the right feeling with the Super Tennis Arena crowd, which drew them in, cheered them on and ultimately led them to victory.
Berrettini’s masterful final was performed on velvet. Young Cobolli, however, once again suffered and needed another epic comeback and marathon, after a grueling match against Belgium’s Bergs in the semi-finals, to be able to indulge in the celebrations.
The 29 year old first singles player managed to beat Pablo Carreno Busta in less than one hour and twenty minutes. In a match that seemed even and without particular flashes, but with two surgical breaks from Berrettini in the decisive moments of the two sets. It’s all, almost, too easy.
Cobolli’s approach to court, however, was poor, unrecognizable from anything seen in his previous match: in just half an hour he lost the first set to Jaume Munar 6-1. Then, after dropping his serve in the first and second games, he started to recover and counter-break at the end of a very long game, interrupting the help of a spectator in the stands who was suffering from an illness and was decided on a volley, with the help of the tape.
The Spaniard, after several reactions, began to become the target of the Bolognese public, with the roar of football in the opposite tone of the two players on the pitch, heating up the atmosphere and providing fuel for the return of the young Roman. Yang managed to achieve victory via tie break, after having to wait five fiery set points.
The tension continued point by point in the third set, until the eleventh game, the momentum finally changed again thanks to forehand pressure. After a change of goal, Cobolli served for the close and did not miss, causing the Bolognese arena to explode and sing the “world champion” song.
While the national football team is reeling, the tennis team confirmed they are experiencing an unforgettable era, with a magical night for the fans. Aware of the passion he aroused in Italy, thanks to characters like Sinner (but not only him, as Davis points out), federal president Angelo Binaghi spoke of a successful bet for the Bolognese organization. But not only that. For Davis, he said, “we are the owners of the rights, we took those rights precisely to be able to convince Rai, also providing very favorable conditions, to start recognizing recognized rights to the national football team. I believe that Cobolli compared to Scamacca, with all due respect, should have the same rights and opportunities to make himself known to all Italians”.
Cobolli vs Munar – Match
THE THIRD WEEK
Cobolli ends the serve that gave Italy its third Davis Cup: 7-5
Munar cancels break point to Cobolli but not second: 6-5
Cobolli serves to stay on set and closes at 15:00: 5-5
Munar holds serve to zero: 4-5
Cobolli holds serve at 15: 4-4
The Spaniard served at 15: 3-4
Cobolli manages the service closing at 3pm well: 3-3
Same score for Munar: 2-3
Cobolli holds serve at 15: 2-2
Munar also did well, closing his serve in the 15th minute: 1-2
Cobolli’s half was good, ending in the 15th minute: 1-1
Munar opened the third set by recovering partial serve 30-15 and holding: 0-1
SECOND WEEK
IT BROKE
1-0
1-1
2-1 Cobolli small break
3-1
4-1
4-2
5-2 Cobolli small break
5-3 small break Munar
6-3
6-4 Munar cancels set point
6-5 Munar cancels second set point
7-5
Munar canceled out set point to Cobolli with a forehand cross, but Cobolli built a second chance, which was disallowed. Munar’s long response, Cobolli’s third set point, was again canceled. Munar also canceled the fourth set point. In the end the Spaniard won the tie break: 6-6
Cobolli’s serve was good, reaching 40 to zero. Shorten Munar. Then Cobolli closed it: 6-5
Munar serves to stay on set. Cobolli’s backhand deuce went into the net. 15-0 for the Spaniard who scored the first 30-0. Cobolli was unable to smash his volley into the net. 40 becomes zero. The first one is good and closes at zero: 5-5
Cobolli started well then found himself 15-30. Draw and 5-4 balls achieved: 5-4
Games fought with Munar emerging victorious at the age of 30: 4-4
Cobolli finds continuity in service: 4-3
Munar holds serve at 30: 3-3
Cobolli led 30 to zero on serve, then Munar equalized, but Cobolli expanded and served: 3-2
Munar held serve in the 15th minute, but the tone of the match changed: 2-2
Cobolli managed the half well and closed at 15: 2-1
Munar served with Cobolli which forced him to take advantage and get break point. The match was suspended for several minutes due to illness in the stands. When restarting, Munar cancels the pause. Cobolli’s second break opportunity was cancelled. Another opportunity for Cobolli, who made no mistake, to counterattack: 1-1
The second set also started badly with Cobolli canceling the Spaniard’s first break point but not the second: 0-1
THE FIRST WEEK
Munar led 40 to nil, closing the game and set: 1-6
Cobolli on serve moves the score: 1-5
Munar on his serve gave three break points to Cobolli who was unable to play it because of the Spaniard’s serve. With this advantage, Cobolli got the fourth break point which was canceled by Munar. Another break point, the fifth, was canceled out by a shot that ended up on the inside line. Spain takes the lead, canceled by Cobolli: draw. Then Munar’s magical moment continued and closed the game: 0-5
Cobolli on his serve failed to stop the Spaniard who dominated the set, double break: 0-4
Munar was supported by the first close at 15 and consolidated the break lead: 0-3
Cobolli on serve came back from 0-30 to 30, then a great hit from Munar saw the Spaniard break: 0-2
Munar opened the set by closing his serve to zero: 0-1
Berrettini vs Carreno-Busta – Match
SECOND WEEK
Berrettini gave Italy the first point: 6-4
Carreno Busta on his serve conceded three break points which the Roman capitalized on in the second attempt: 5-4
Berrettini closes at 15: 4-4
Zero score for Carreno Busta: 3-4
Berrettini kept the inning at 30: 3-3
Carreno Busta closed the fifth game in the 30th minute: 2-3
Berrettini also closed at zero: 2-2
Carreno Busta served well and closed his service game to zero: 1-2
Berrettini served in the 30th minute: 1-1
Carreno Busta on serve canceled two break points for Berrettini and created the lead: 0-1
THE FIRST WEEK
Berrettini ended the game and the first set at zero: 6-3
Carreno Busta sells services: 5-3
Berrettini also closed at zero: 4-3
Carreno Busta served well and won the match with a score of zero: 3-3
Berrettini served in the 30th minute: 3-2
Carreno Busta maintains service at 30:00 2-2
Berrettini won the third game with the lead: 2-1
Carreno Busta kept the inning at 30: 1-1
Berrettini started strong in the first game and led 40 to nil. Carreno Busta recovered to make it 40-30. Then Berrettini closed the game with a second ace: 1-0
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