DAVIS CUP .
Italy are Davis Cup champions for a third straight season, becoming the first country to win three titles in a row in the post-Challenge Round era, which began way back in 1972. Having won the trophy in Malaga in 2023 and 2024, beating Spain 2-0 in an absorbing contest in Bologna.Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli guided Italy to a historic third consecutive Davis Cup title on Sunday when they earned victories in front of a raucous crowd in Bologna against Spain.
Just as he did in the quarter-final and semi-final, Flavio Cobolli clinched the winning point, recovering from a slow start but eventually setting the match alight with his shotmaking to beat Jaume Munar 1-6 7-6(5) 7-5 in front of a partisan and passionate sell-out crowd of 10,000 inside the SuperTennis Arena. Earlier, the irrepressible Matteo Berrettini had given Italy the lead in the final by defeating Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3 6-4.
“It’s impossible to describe this feeling. I dreamed a lot for this night,” Cobolli said.”We cannot lose for our country. Sometimes you learn, but you never lose. “I don’t know what I did today. I don’t know where I am. The only thing I know is that I am a world champion.”
World number 22 Cobolli paid the price for a slow start as he conceded a one-sided opening set.
But he launched a necessary, immediate response after falling a break down at the start of the second, before once again delivering in a crucial tie-break and then finding the inspiration to complete his memorable win.”We tried to recreate the spirit of the Italy team that won the [football] World Cup in 2006,” Cobolli said.
“Our brilliant fans are also part of this team. I’ve been repeating for three days but it’s the best day of my life.”