Defending champion Italy defeated Argentina 2-1 on Thursday on to victories in singles and doubles by No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner, earning a passage back to the Davis Cup semifinals. “I’m here trying to do the best I can in the singles,” Sinner stated. “If they put me on the court in doubles, I’ll also try my best.”
Italy will meet Australia on Saturday in a rematch of the championship match from the previous year, but this time it will only be for the opportunity to play for the title. Australia advanced to the team competition’s final four for the third year in a row after defeating the United States 2-1 earlier Thursday. Also read: Wimbledon Tennis Tournament to Replace Line Judges with AI Technology Starting in 2025
The Netherlands will play Germany in the other semifinal on Friday. Earlier in the week, the Dutch defeated Rafael Nadal and Spain in the quarterfinals, forcing the 22-time Grand Slam champion to retire.
On an indoor hard court at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martina Carpena in southern Spain, Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-4, 6-1, putting Italy behind 1-0 in the semifinals.
However, Sinner, a two-time Grand Slam champion and last weekend’s ATP Finals victor, defeated Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-1. Sinner then defeated Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez 6-4, 7-5 in the decisive doubles match with 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini. Also read: Davis Cup Final: Italy to face Argentina
“He carried me today,” Sinner remarked of Berrettini. Sinner did not have an opportunity to practise on the Davis Cup tournament court before to facing Báez and extending his winning streak to 22 consecutive sets because he arrived late to Malaga after winning the ATP Finals. Filippo Volandri, the captain of Italy, stated, “He was completely at ease on the court in three minutes.” “He’s a special one.”