Led by Jannik Sinner, Italy won the second Davis Cup in its history on Sunday, November 26, by dominating Australia 2-0 in Malaga, thanks to two singles victories. The Italian world number four swept Alex De Minaur (12th) 6-3, 6-0 to offer the title to his country, while Matteo Arnaldi obtained the first point thanks to his success against Popyrin (7-5, 2- 6, 6-4).
Forty-seven years after their first victory in the competition in 1976, the Italians were once again able to hold up the silver bowl, carried by their best player, who flew through the week. The 22-year-old won all five matches he played in Malaga, two in doubles and three in singles. On Sunday, he made short work of Alex De Minaur, who was no match for the mastery of the finalist of the last Masters. Sinner quickly took control of the match, taking his opponent’s serve very early, to lead 2-1.
Serene and diligent, he simply had to dismiss a break point at 4-3, the only one of the match, before winning the first set, despite some well-felt accelerations from De Minaur. The second set, on the other hand, was one-sided, since the 24-year-old Australian failed to win a single game, facing an opponent he had never beaten in six matches. Author of several beautiful passing shots which made his teammates gathered at the edge of the field exult, Sinner quickly broke away to win the second set and the match in 1 hour 21 minutes.
“We’re going to be able to celebrate, it’s great.”
Earlier on Sunday, Matteo Arnaldi, 44th in the world, had to work harder to overcome Alexey Popyrin (40th). The Italian, also 22 years old, showed astonishing composure in the third set, erasing all eight break points obtained by the Australian before racing towards victory and putting his team on the right track rails.
Sinner concluded a perfect week, launched by a victory in the quarter-finals against the Netherlands (2-1), then by a prestigious success against Novak Djokovic’s Serbia. The young Italian disgusted the world number one, erasing three match points in the singles before winning, then dominating him again during the doubles disputed with Lorenzo Sonego.
“Yesterday, we were on the verge of getting knocked out and now we’re going to be able to celebrate, it’s great,” said the winner of the Masters 1000 in Toronto this year. This victory allows Italy to move up to Croatia with two titles, while the Australians faced them with immense experience with 28 victories in 49 finals. Captain Filippo Volandri’s team succeeds Canada in the Davis Cup rankings.