Two-time defending champions Italy kicked off their 2025 Davis Cup Finals campaign in Bologna on Wednesday afternoon with a 2-0 sweep of Austria in front of their home crowd.
Matteo Berrettini got the quarterfinals underway with a 6-3, 7-6(4) victory over Jurij Rodionov. The former world number 6 came back from a break in the second set and also fought out of a 0-40, triple-set point hole while serving at 4-5. Flavio Cobolli followed suit and scored the decisive point with a 6-1, 6-3 defeat of Filip Misolic.
The Italians will face Belgium in the semi-finals on Friday. Belgium defeated France 2-0 on Tuesday. Despite not having the services of world number 2 Jannik Sinner this time, the hosts will be significant favorites over a Belgian side made up of Zizou Bergs and Raphael Collignon.
“I was very happy to step on the field,” said Berrettini. “I was really happy to get the call first and then be able to come here and enjoy the atmosphere, the team, the teammates and my good friends. It’s just so special for me.”
“In [the 4-5] I would say that I am tennis wise enough to know that such matches can happen. With my serve I can hold on regardless of the score. I told myself to take one point at a time. I have served well. I think I was really stuck. I’m happy about that.”
In the bottom half of the series it is Germany vs. Argentina and Czech Republic vs. Spain.
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