BOLOGNA, Italy — Two-time defending champion Italy returned to the Davis Cup remaining as Flavio Cobolli saved seven match factors in Friday’s dramatic semi-final, defeating Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 6-3, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (15).
After losing six match factors himself, Cobolli lastly bought Italy over the road. He took off his shirt, celebrated together with his teammates, and finally the group went to consolation Bergs, who was sitting in a chair crying.
The 17-15 remaining set tiebreak was the sixth longest in Davis Cup historical past.
“We fought for this victory for our nation, however in the long run we realized our goals,” Kobori stated. “My complete group performed for my household. It was probably the greatest days of my life.”
Cobolli gave Italy a stable 2-0 lead with out the necessity for a doubles contest. Earlier, Matteo Berrettini helped Italy advance by defeating Rafael Collignon 6-3, 6-4.
Italy, on a 13-game successful streak, will face the winner of Germany vs. Spain in Saturday’s semi-final, with No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz freed from harm.
Neither Belgian participant on Friday has received a singles title on the boys’s tour. However Bergs, ranked forty third within the rankings, performed as if the match towards Twenty second-ranked Cobolli in entrance of a crowd in Bologna was the most important match of his life.
At 3-3 within the second set tiebreak, Bergs discovered his vary and tied the match with a forehand deep into the courtroom, which Koboli returned lengthy.
The gamers then modified fingers and missed match level alternatives, however in the long run Cobolli received with a service winner, whereas Bergs simply held on to his racquet.
Cobolli jumped into the arms of group captain Filippo Volandri, who managed to take care of his composure in the course of the rollercoaster tie-break.
“In my 5 years as captain, I’ve by no means seen something like that. However that is how Davis Cup works. It was unbelievable,” Volandri stated. “On the finish, I stated (to Kobolli) it’s 5% ways and 95% coronary heart.”
It was a extra comfy match for Berrettini, who has 10 singles titles on tour and is the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up. He received the primary set together with his service sport towards No. 86 Collignon.
Collignon dropped his first serve of the second set, however broke again at 2-2. Berrettini withstood aggressive shot-making to interrupt at 4-3 and win the primary match level with a love maintain.
The Davis Cup Remaining 8 is the sixth version of the revamped occasion, the place a champion is decided at a impartial venue.
