The anticipation is building for the Davis Cup semifinal this Friday, as host nation Italy prepares to face Belgium in the picturesque city of Bologna. The Italian team looks to their star players, Flavio Cobolli and the experienced Matteo Berrettini, to secure a victory against the Belgian pair of Zizou Bergs and Raphael Collignon.
In the opening match, Flavio Cobolli will square off against Zizou Bergs. This encounter marks the third meeting between the two players, the second taking place in the context of their Davis Cup rivalry. They have traded victories in their previous encounters, with Cobolli narrowly edging out Bergs at last year’s U.S. Open before Bergs demonstrated resilience with a commanding win just weeks later during Davis Cup qualifiers — also in Bologna. Despite Cobolli enjoying home-court advantage, recent history favors Bergs, especially given his strong track record on indoor hard courts, boasting 95 career wins on this surface. In contrast, Cobolli’s struggles on hard courts, with a record of 18-31, could hinder his performance.
For predictions, the scales tip slightly in favor of Bergs, who is expected to take the match in straight sets.
The second match features Matteo Berrettini facing Raphael Collignon. Berrettini, who recently delivered a strong performance with a straight-sets victory over Austria’s Jurij Rodionov, is a formidable threat on indoor hard surfaces thanks to his powerful serve and aggressive forehand. While Collignon is currently enjoying a breakthrough year on the tour, Berrettini’s prowess, combined with the home-court advantage, positions him as the favored competitor in this matchup.
Expectations lean toward Berrettini clinching the match in straight sets as well, adding a key point for the Italian squad.
With emotions running high and both teams eager to advance, this semifinal clash promises to be exhilarating, showcasing the best of men’s tennis.
