by our correspondent Federica Cocchi
November 24 – 7.31pm – MALAGA 
The sky is increasingly blue, the Martin Carpena speakers blast. And that’s exactly how it is, because Jannik Sinner’s victory over Tallonn Griekspoor 7-6(2) 6-2 gives Italy the victory in the final over the Netherlands which is worth the second consecutive Davis Cup. A silver encore, like the salad bowl that remains with us after the extraordinary triumph of 2023, the one that brought the trophy back to Italy after 47 years of starvation.
This is Matteo Berrettini’s Davis, who with his clear path in blue from Bologna to Malaga returns to the protagonist and can dream big for next season. It is Jannik Sinner’s Davis who, from those three match points canceled out last year in the semifinal against Novak Djokovic, set off on a dream journey that took him to number 1. It is the Cup of captain Volandri, capable of making the choices right and sometimes painful, like leaving the Bolelli-Vavassori and Lorenzo Musetti duo on the bench. It is the cup of Arnaldi, Cobolli and Sonego, precious between Malaga 2023 and Bologna 2024, in taking Italy to the Finals. But it is also and above all the Davis of the people, who have arrived en masse in Malaga from all over Italy, the one who never misses a match and the one who takes their children to tennis lessons “because when I grow up I want to be like Sinner”.
THE MATCH
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Jannik enters the field with Italy at 1-0 thanks to Matteo Berrettini’s victory over Van de Zandschulp. Over there is Tallon Griekspoor who in the past five matches has never managed to beat our number 1. “What can I do to beat Sinner? Sign up for a tournament where he isn’t there” he said a few months ago after the defeat in Rotterdam, which would be followed by those of Miami and Halle. The Dutch number 1 immediately tried to put Jannik in difficulty, so much so that in the third game, with the collaboration of the blue, he earned two break points. Four points in a row and variations in service: danger escaped. Tallon serves very well, does not exchange, and the match remains on serve until the tie break where Sinner engages the “phenomenon” gear and goes 7-2 with three spectacular points at the end: first a short ball, then two direct points with the service. Griekspoor goes to the changing rooms, but when he returns the situation doesn’t improve, on the contrary. This time the break comes at the first opportunity, in the 3rd game: two backhand errors and the Dutchman is out. Griekspoor has his right wrist treated, returns to the pitch and takes the break again. Jannik is pushed by the people and by the desire to close, he has the opportunity to break again and Griekspoor gives it to him with a double fault. “Olè Olè Olè Sinner Sinner” the choir that reached Andalusia from Turin. Jannik takes the lead 4-2, raises the level of service, which is essential to get some breathing room, and breaks the serve again from the Dutchman by serving for 5-2. The rest is already history.
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