In a stunning display of teamwork and resilience, Italy carved its name into the tennis history books on Sunday, securing its third Davis Cup title in three consecutive years. The Italian squad, playing on home turf in Bologna, sealed a dominant 2-0 victory over a formidable Spanish team to complete a perfect, undefeated campaign.
A Dream Comeback Seals the Victory
The championship-winning moment was delivered by Flavio Cobolli, who staged a magnificent comeback after a shaky start. Cobolli lost the first set 1-6 but fought back valiantly to claim the next two sets, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5, against Spain's Jaume Munar. The victory was so decisive that the planned doubles match was not even required. The 23-year-old collapsed onto the court in sheer joy as the home crowd erupted, celebrating Italy's flawless run in the competition.
"This was my dream," an emotional Cobolli said after the match. "We're a really united team, and we tried to recreate the spirit of the Italy team that won the World Cup in 2006. I'm really proud of everyone and our brilliant fans are also part of this team… it's the best day of my life."
Berrettini Sets the Tone, Depth Proves Decisive
The path to glory was set earlier by Matteo Berrettini, who put the first point on the board for Italy with a composed and commanding performance. Berrettini defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-4, setting a confident tone for the afternoon that never seemed in doubt.
This historic treble is made even more remarkable by the fact that Italy was without its two highest-ranked players, Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti. Both top-10 stars opted out of the title defence on home soil, but their absence was hardly felt. The team's incredible depth was on full display, with specialists Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori not required to play a single match throughout the entire campaign.
Berrettini downplayed the impact of the missing stars, emphasizing the squad's unity. "It doesn't matter who goes out there for us, we have a deep squad and we have a lot of great lads who play great tennis," he stated.
Spain's Challenge and Broader Tennis Context
For Spain, which was chasing a seventh Davis Cup crown, the loss was a tough pill to swallow. They were also hampered by the absence of their own superstar, world number one Carlos Alcaraz, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained during the ATP Finals.
Spanish captain David Ferrer acknowledged the fine margins in the tie, saying, "It was a very, very, very close tie… Italy in important moments, they play really good."
Amid discussions about top players potentially skipping the prestigious team event, ITF president David Haggerty was quick to refute such notions. "There's this false feeling out there that top players don't represent their nation," Haggerty insisted. "That's not true." Italy's triumphant victory, achieved with a mix of established names and rising talents, served as a powerful testament to the enduring spirit and appeal of the Davis Cup.
