Matteo Berrettini delivered a crucial victory for defending Davis Cup champions Italy, edging out Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 7-5 in a thrilling semifinal clash. Berrettini’s triumph gave Italy a 1-0 lead in the tie, with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner set to face Alex de Minaur in the second singles rubber. Sinner, undefeated in eight matches against de Minaur, aims to secure Italy’s place in the final. Awaiting the victor is the Netherlands, who ended Germany’s hopes with a historic win on Friday to reach their first final in 104 years.
Berrettini, pivotal in Italy’s Davis Cup campaign this year, has stepped up after missing the 2023 triumph due to an ankle injury. His exceptional performance in doubles during the quarterfinals against Argentina earned him a spot in the singles lineup for the semifinal opener. Despite a strong showing by Kokkinakis, who had earlier helped Australia overcome the USA with an epic tie-break win, Berrettini’s resilience shone through. He rallied back after losing the first set, drawing on the crowd’s energy and his determination to fight for his country.
The Italian gained momentum in the second set, converting his second break point in the eighth game before serving it out to force a decider. Kokkinakis showed grit, fending off multiple break points early in the third set, but Berrettini’s persistence paid off in the 11th game. Capitalizing on a break point, he sealed the match with a commanding service game, punctuated by an ace that ignited celebrations among Italian fans at the Martin Carpena arena.
Reflecting on the win, Berrettini expressed his gratitude to the home crowd, acknowledging the challenge of recovering from a tough first-set loss. "When I’m fighting for my country with this crowd... I kept on fighting," he said. With Italy on the verge of another Davis Cup final, Berrettini’s performance underlines his critical role in the team’s pursuit of back-to-back titles.
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