Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli spurred defending Davis Cup champion Italy into the semifinals on Wednesday in Bologna.
Former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini started things perfectly with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Jurij Rodionov, and Cobolli followed suit with a takedown of Filip Misolic, 6-1, 6-3.
Italy, without its two top players Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, is aiming to become the first nation to complete a Davis Cup three-peat in the event’s modern history.
Having won all six of his Davis Cup matches for Italy in 2024 as they defended their title, Berrettini was trusted by captain Filippo Volandri to lead the team out, despite being the third highest-ranked Italian on this year’s team.
Good choice.
The nations had not met in 35 years in Davis Cup, and Berrettini was quick to bypass introductions and get right to assertive tennis, leading Italy to its 11th consecutive Davis Cup tie victory.
56th-ranked Berrettini saved four of five break points and won all but 15 points on serve against Rodionov. He fired seven aces to win his 20th match of 2025.
Not even a temporary lighting issue, which delayed play early in the second set, could slow down Berrettini.
22nd-ranked Cobolli made it look relatively easy against talented Misolic (world No.79) to clinch the win for the Italians. He converted four of five break points and saved all five break points that he faced on serve.
No team has ever completed a successful Davis Cup threepeat since the challenge round was abolished following the 1971 event.
Italy will face Belgium in the semifinals on Friday at 1600 local time.
Spain vs Czechia and Argentina vs Germany will take place on Thursday in Bologna, with the winners squaring off in the second semifinal, to be played on Saturday.
