🔗 Share this article

Flavio Cobolli and his compatriot guided Italy to team tennis success as the hosts defeated Spain to claim a historic third successive title in front of an ecstatic local supporters

48 hours after he edged a marathon lengthy decider, the Italian talent once again excelled as he fought back from behind in sets to defeat Jaume Munar in a grueling match

The young player's tenacious 1-6 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 success clinched a straight sets win for his nation in Bologna after Berrettini had won 6-3 6-4 against the Spanish player

It is a fourth Davis Cup victory overall for the Italian team, who are the first nation to win three straight championships since defending champions no longer received direct entry to the championship match 53 years ago

Local Supporters Inspires Team Italy Triumph

Supported enthusiastically by the vast majority of a sell-out capacity crowd, the Italian star conquered a slow start to spark scenes of jubilation among the Italian players, staff and supporters

The champion was mobbed by his team-mates on the playing surface but took a brief time to commend his opponent on his efforts before rejoining the celebrations

Key Players Deliver in Missing Stars

Each Italy and Spain reached the championship match even with being without key players, with the absence of top-ranked players preventing spectators a seventh matchup of 2025 between the world's dominant men's players

But, with national number two Lorenzo Musetti also absent, Cobolli and Berrettini seized their opportunities in the spotlight with perfect records from three singles matches apiece this week

Dramatic Comeback Seals Win

The audience chanted Cobolli's moniker as he maintained his composure to serve out his recovery triumph to zero, having forced the breakthrough in the penultimate game of a nail-biting deciding set

That was quite an accomplishment, given he had stated he had realized a "goal" in guiding his nation to the final on domestic ground

In opposition to the events of Friday night, when Cobolli tore off his shirt in jubilation on "one of the best" moments of his life, the world number 22 paid the consequence for a slow start as he conceded a one-sided opening set

But the determined player initiated a necessary, swift comeback after going a break down at the start of the following set

The Italian's fortunes seemed to shift after a brief stop in the match when a member of the crowd became unwell

When the match continued, and with Munar down break point, the Italian lobbed over a volley that hit a lucky net tape and put the set to deuce

Although annoyingly prevented four set points on his opponent's serve, the champion wrested command of a decisive breaker to force the decider - where he once again performed

Berrettini Continues Impressive Winning Streak

The Italian star had earlier extended his Davis Cup singles victory run to eleven consecutive wins with an superb display against the Spanish opponent

The Grand Slam finalist converted his decisive opportunity for a 5-3 lead before assuredly closing the first set to zero

Having won the majority of points to take the first set, the player appeared ready to strengthen his grip on the match upon forcing opportunities in the opening game of the following set

His opponent succeeded to survive each before putting together a sequence of solid service games - but the Italian seized his following chance and served out to zero to finish his triumph