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Italy advanced to the Davis Cup semifinals after a nail-biting quarterfinal against a relentless Argentina that pushed the Azzurri to their limits. The key to victory was the two-set triumph by the Berrettini/Sinner duo.
The start in Malaga was less than ideal for the Italian team, with Lorenzo Musetti failing to shine against Francisco Cerundolo. The world number 17 suffered a heavy two-set loss (4-6, 1-6) to the world number 30, signaling a tough and balanced contest ahead. Trailing 0-1, Italy turned to the ever-reliable Jannik Sinner to level the score.
Sinner delivered a spectacular performance against Argentina’s top player, Sebastian Baez (world number 27). With a commanding win (6-2, 6-1), he restored parity and set the stage for a decisive doubles match. Baez had no answer for Sinner’s quality and swift returns.
Team captain Filippo Volandri made a strategic change for the doubles, opting for the Sinner/Berrettini pairing over Bolelli/Vavassori to face Argentina’s specialists, Gonzalez and Molteni. The decision paid off, as the Italian duo delivered a brilliant performance to edge out their opponents in a hard-fought two-set victory (6-4, 7-5). Italy advanced, albeit with more effort than expected.
Next up is a challenging semifinal against the formidable Australia. Italy will need the same determination shown against Argentina to overcome a team that defeated the USA 2-1. Once again, the Australian duo of Ebden and Thompson proved crucial, securing a doubles victory over Paul and Shelton.
