A year later, Italy wins the Davis Cup again. The Azzurri, captained by Filippo Volandri, won their second consecutive salad bowl against the Netherlands, after the unforgettable success in 2023 against Australia. In Malaga the Italians beat the Oranje, in the first Davis final in their history, 2-0. In the first match Matteo Berrettini beat Botic van de Zandschulp, in the second singles Jannik Sinner beat Tallon Griekspoor. For Italy it is the third Davis Cup ever, after those of 1976 and 2023. Our country is world champion in men’s and women’s tennis: in recent days, in fact, the Italian tennis players won the Billie Jean King Cup.
The final won by Italy over Holland
Volandri chose Berrettini and Sinner for the two singles of the final. In the first match, Berrettini beat Van de Zandschulp in two sets: 6-4, 6-2, in an hour and 16 minutes of play. In the second singles, Sinner faced Griekspoor: the world number 1 won with a score of 7-6, 6-2. It didn’t take twice as long.
The reactions of the protagonists
“This Cup always has a special flavour, it means a lot to us to have won this trophy again. I wanted to be here, I wanted to defend this title and we succeeded by giving more than 100%, because nothing can ever be taken for granted”, said Sinner after the triumph. “It’s nice to end the season winning again, I’m really happy. Was 2024 incredible for me? All very good, but there are things I could have done better. It was a year with many emotions, but also with many difficulties, with nothing taken for granted. Now let’s see how 2025 goes.” . Berrettini also spoke. “It was a hard-fought, desired and much-desired victory. Thanks to all my teammates, I feel a great emotion”, he said. And again: “The Cup is heavy, it was ‘dismantled’ and we didn’t want to break it. But it is heavy in every sense, we lived every match intensely , with Australia it was a very tough challenge but we are a strong group. I’m super happy, it’s one of my best successes, I dedicate it to my family and to myself: I made difficult choices and I never gave up.” Lorenzo Musetti also attended the party. “This year I wasn’t very involved on the pitch, but I was very involved from the outside. My teammates were very good, Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini first and foremost: they have great experience and determination and we saw it on the pitch. Now I have to recharge your batteries and already think about 2025. The team’s secret? The simplicity of all the guys and our great friendship”, he said.
Volandri’s words
“You don’t suffer anything… I knew there was nothing to be taken for granted, but the boys make it almost taken for granted,” joked Volandri. “We told ourselves last year, after winning it, that we wanted to make history and win two: these guys go faster than we can think, they won it again immediately the following year – he added -. In the end with the work of everyone besides Jannik and Matteo, but also Arnaldi and Cobolli who brought us here. The Berrettini-Sinner double? We’ve been trying to get Sinner to play doubles on the circuit for a couple of years but we’ve never succeeded, I know that these guys have very broad shoulders and know how to take responsibility as they did at that moment. Afraid that Sinner will say no next year? It would be understandable, having him here was an honor, a privilege, something special, in the meantime we’re enjoying this one and starting tomorrow we’ll start thinking about the next one.”
See also
Azzurri win Davis Cup, Meloni: “Extraordinary team”
The path of Italy and Holland
Today was the first time in the final for the Netherlands, who had beaten Germany in the semi-final. Italy, the reigning champion who was reconfirmed, had instead eliminated Australia in the semi-final, closing the practice with the two singles, again won by Berrettini and Sinner. And the world no. 1 himself, on the eve of the final, said: “Being here again is a wonderful emotion. Davis is the last competition of the year, it gives you good sensations that you also carry into your preparation for the season next season means ending the year well, regardless of the result of the final.” This final was the remake of the group match in Bologna, won 2-1 by the Azzurri last September, with the singles successes of Berrettini and Cobolli over Van de Zandschulp and Griekspoor.
See also
Davis Cup, Sinner and Berrettini take Italy to the final
Swiss
