Italy Reach Davis Cup Final After Cobolli’s Epic Victory

Italy moved one step closer to winning their third straight Davis Cup title after a dramatic 2-0 semi-final win over Belgium on Friday. The star of the day was Flavio Cobolli, who produced one of the most unforgettable matches in the tournament’s history. His victory, full of emotion and determination, helped Italy reach their third final in a row.

Cobolli, just 23 years old, played in front of an energetic home crowd at the SuperTennis Arena. Fans loudly supported him throughout the match, and he needed every bit of that encouragement. Cobolli defeated Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(15) in a match that will be remembered for its long, tense, and dramatic final-set tiebreak. The third-set tiebreak stretched to 32 points, making it one of the most intense moments ever seen in the Davis Cup.

Both players delivered powerful and fearless tennis. Long rallies, aggressive hitting, and high-pressure points kept the crowd on edge. Bergs played boldly and looked close to forcing the tie into the deciding doubles match. Cobolli also struggled to finish the match, failing to convert his first six match points. But he refused to give up. Finally, on his seventh match point, he fired an unreturnable serve that ended the contest and sent the Italian fans into a loud celebration.

Italy’s captain, Filippo Volandri, praised Cobolli afterward, saying, “In the five years I've been captain, I've never seen anything like it. This match was incredible; in the end, it was 5 percent tactics and 95 percent heart.” His words showed just how much fighting spirit Cobolli had displayed.

Earlier in the day, Matteo Berrettini gave Italy the lead with a calm and confident performance. Berrettini beat Belgium’s Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-4, giving Italy a strong start in the semi-final. This victory was Berrettini’s eighth straight Davis Cup win. Last year, he won all six matches he played, including doubles, as Italy successfully defended their title by beating the Netherlands in the final. His form and consistency have been extremely valuable for Italy in recent years.

Italy will now face either Germany or Spain in Sunday’s Davis Cup final. If Italy win the title again, they will become the first nation to capture three consecutive Davis Cup trophies since the Challenge Round format ended in 1971. It would be a historic moment for the team and for Italian tennis.

Cobolli has stepped up at the perfect time. With Italy missing top players like world number two Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, he has taken on the role of Italy’s number one player. The young star embraced the pressure, beating Filip Misolic earlier in the quarter-finals and now surviving a huge challenge from Bergs. His win over Bergs showed his mental strength, patience, and ability to handle high-pressure moments.

After the match, Cobolli said, “It’s really tough to say something about this match. I played for all of my team, my family, and it’s one of the best days of my life.” His words showed how much the victory meant to him personally and to his team.

Italy are now on a 12-tie winning streak in the Davis Cup. They are also the first team to reach three consecutive Davis Cup finals since Australia did so in 2001. Although Australia lost two of those finals, Italy will hope to take full advantage of this chance and write a new chapter in their tennis history.

With strong players like Berrettini and a rising fighter like Cobolli, Italy will enter Sunday’s final with confidence and belief. They are now just one win away from completing a rare Davis Cup three-peat, something only a few nations have ever achieved.