Flavio Cobolli showcased an impressive performance in Bologna, Italy, as he defeated Filip Misolic with a decisive score of 6-1, 6-3. This victory not only secured a 2-0 win for Italy over Austria in the Davis Cup quarterfinals but also propelled the two-time defending champions into a semifinal showdown against Belgium.
Appearing confident and composed, Cobolli wrapped up the match in just 65 minutes, delighting the enthusiastic home crowd with a powerful service winner. Earlier in the day, Matteo Berrettini had put Italy on the scoreboard by outlasting Jurij Rodionov, clinching the match 6-3, 7-6(4). Berrettini’s resilience was evident as he rallied from a 2-5 deficit in the second set, saving three set points before claiming victory in the tiebreaker on his first match point.
This encounter followed the best-of-three format, which meant that the doubles match was not necessary following Italy’s solid lead. The Italian team stands strong with an ongoing streak of 12 consecutive Davis Cup ties since their last defeat against Canada during the 2023 finals group stage.
As they eye a third consecutive title and a total of four overall, Italy will have to navigate the formidable challenge posed by Belgium in the upcoming semifinal, scheduled for Friday. Jannik Sinner, Italy’s star player and a four-time Grand Slam champion, voluntarily opted out of this year’s final after leading the team to victories in both 2023 and 2024.
Meanwhile, Austria, currently ranked 12th, has historically struggled against Italy, managing only one victory in their last six encounters, which dates back to a quarterfinal win in 1990, marking their best team competition result.
In a significant turn of events, the top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament due to a hamstring injury following his runner-up finish at the ATP Finals in Turin. Spain, now without Alcaraz, is set to face the fourth-seeded Czech Republic, while Germany, seeded second, will go up against Argentina in the remaining quarterfinal matchups scheduled for Thursday.
The Davis Cup Final 8 in Bologna marks the sixth iteration of the revised event, where champions are determined at a neutral site, adding an extra layer of intensity to the ongoing competition.
