Italy Edge Closer To Davis Cup Three-peat

Italy overpowered Austria successful nan Davis Cup quarter-finals to move a measurement person to becoming nan first federation to triumph 3 consecutive titles for 53 years.

Straight-set singles victories for Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli earned triumph for an Italian squad which dominated contempt missing nan nation's apical 2 players successful Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti.

Italy move connected to a semi-final gathering pinch Belgium connected Friday, aft their upcoming opponents beat France connected nan opening day of nan Finals successful Bologna.

They will statesman that lucifer connected an 11-tie winning streak astatine nan Davis Cup Finals, stretching backmost to nan group stages of nan 2023 tournament.

In nan different half of nan draw, Spain look nan Czech Republic earlier Argentina play Germany connected Thursday.

Davis Cup organisers confirmed to BBC Sport this week that talks will return spot astir nan tournament's early format amid nan absence of respective apical players astatine this year's event.

That includes Italian top-10 players Sinner and Musetti, pinch world number 2 Sinner opting to maximise his betterment during nan sport's little six-week off-season aft triumphing astatine nan ATP Finals connected Sunday.

But, successful their place, Berrettini and Cobolli shone for their nation.

Former Wimbledon runner-up Berrettini sewage Italy disconnected to a affirmative commencement by defeating nan 177th-ranked Jurij Rodionov 6-3 7-6 (7-4).

Berrettini, nan world number 56, took nan opening group pinch a azygous break of serve, but faced an uphill conflict successful nan 2nd erstwhile he was surgery for nan first clip and fell 5-2 behind.

The 29-year-old responded admirably, withstanding 3 group points to level astatine 5-5 and maintaining that momentum to wrest power of nan tie-break and debar a decider.

"When I play for my state I conscionable deliberation astir trying to triumph nan adjacent point, trying to conflict really difficult for my team-mates, for everybody who is present and everyone who is watching from home," said Berrettini.

"That's nan biggest privilege. If I triumph it's better, but I effort to bask being retired location each time. It is thing truthful special."

World number 22 Cobolli followed his compatriot pinch a commanding 6-1 6-3 triumph complete Austrian number 1 Filip Misolic.

The 23-year-old Cobolli, who impressed pinch a tally to nan Wimbledon quarter-finals this year, dominated a first group lasting conscionable 30 minutes pinch 3 breaks of serve.

He tightened his grip connected nan lucifer early successful nan 2nd set, securing an early break arsenic he moved into a 3-0 lead, earlier confidently serving his measurement to victory.

Cobolli echoed his team-mate's sentiments successful his post-match interview, saying: "We each want to triumph this cup and I felt nan support of nan bench, it was unbelievable.

"When I play for them, it is thing which I cannot describe."