Bologna | Italy scores a Davis Cup hat-trick

For the third year in a row, Italy triumphed in the Davis Cup final, beating Spain 2-0 in Bologna, in front of a delighted 10,000 partisan and rowdy crowd

I don’t know what I did today. I don’t know where I am. All I know is that I’m a world champion! Flavio Cobolli

Neither team was able to field their best team, but Italy, without the services of Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, still had the greater firepower to take down Spain, who were certainly missing their star, Carlos Alcaraz. Their decision not to play and recover followed a grueling week for the three at the Turin ATP Finals.

Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli certainly rose to the challenge, with the former opening the final tie with a flawless performance to beat Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3 6-4 to give the Italians a perfect start.

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for ITF)

The 29-year-old world number 56 fired 13 aces and did not concede a single break point en route to his 79th-minute win, his 11th in Davis Cup competition dating back to 2022.

Spain briefly looked set to reach the final when Jaume Munar bagged the first set after losing just one match, but the local boy recovered to battle through 1-6 7-6(5) 7-5 to take overall victory and retain the title and send the home fans into a wild celebration.

Cobolli, 23 and world number 22, had shown great grit in the final, having saved seven match points in his victory against Belgian Zizou Bergs in the semi-final, while in the final he recovered from dropping his serve early in the second set but crucially got back level at 1-1. He eventually leveled the match on his seventh set point to seal the decider in the 11th game.

Flavio Cobolli is swarmed by his teammates after winning the final for Italy

(Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for ITF)

“It’s impossible to describe this feeling. I dreamed a lot last night,” Cobolli said after his victory.

“We can’t 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. All I know is that I’m a world champion!”

Adding: “We tried to emulate the spirit of the Italian team that achieved victory [football] 2006 FIFA World Cup. Our brilliant fans are also part of this team. I’ve been repeating for three days now, but it’s the best day of my life.”

Italy is now the only country outside the US and Australia to have won the Davis Cup and BJK Cup titles multiple times in the same season. It is also the country’s fourth term as champion.

Spain took part in the Davis Cup Finals title match for the first time since victory in 2019. The former champion defeated the Czech Republic and Germany on his way to the final.