Italy and Spain are set to clash in the finals of the Davis Cup on Sunday in Bologna, marking a thrilling conclusion to the tournament that has seen both teams advance without their star players, Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. The absence of these top-ranked competitors has not deterred their respective nations, as they have each demonstrated resilience and skill to secure their places in the championship match.
Flavio Cobolli will represent Italy against Spain’s Jaume Munar in what promises to be a pivotal singles match. Cobolli has been a standout performer for the Italians, delivering an incredible performance in his semifinal match against Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, where he famously saved seven match points to emerge victorious with a scoreline of 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(15) after an intense battle lasting over three hours. This gripping win propelled Italy into the final with a convincing 2-0 lead in their tie.
Munar, ranked 36th in the world, has proven to be in fine form, having previously faced Cobolli just weeks ago at the Shanghai Masters, where he won comfortably 7-5, 6-1. His journey to the finals included a solid victory against Czechia’s Jiri Lehecka, which he won 6-3, 6-4. Despite a setback against Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, Munar remains a formidable opponent. Cobolli may have had a rest day, but the mental and physical toll of his semifinal match could play a part as he faces Munar again.
In the second singles match, Matteo Berrettini will take on Pablo Carreno Busta. Berrettini has shone in the tournament so far, achieving straight-set victories against Austria’s Jurij Rodionov and Belgium’s Raphael Collignon. Conversely, Carreno Busta’s journey has been a rollercoaster—after losing to Jakub Mensik in his opener, he bounced back with a hard-fought win against Jan-Lennard Struff, where he came back from a 6-1 deficit in a tiebreaker to secure the match 6-4, 7-6(6).
This clash marks the third encounter between Berrettini and Carreno Busta, with both players having won one match each in their previous meetings. Berrettini’s recent form and prowess on indoor hard courts place him in a strong position to leverage the home-court advantage in front of an enthusiastic Italian crowd.
Given the current dynamics and recent performances, predictions favor Spain to edge the singles rubber with Munar overcoming Cobolli, while Berrettini is anticipated to respond victoriously against Carreno Busta. Therefore, the overall prediction leans towards Italy taking the trophy with a final score of 2-1, continuing their remarkable run in the Davis Cup.
