Jannik Sinner delivered the final blow to Australia as Italy claimed an historic Davis Cup trophy for only the second time with Sunday’s 2-0 victory in Malaga.
The world No. 4 whose breakout performances this autumn have catapulted him solidly into the tennis elite, polished off the runaway win in 80 minutes on a first match point 6-3, 6-0 after a double-fault from outclassed opponent Alex de Minaur..
Sinner ended his season after defeating top-ranked Novak Djokovic in both singles and doubles semi-finals 24 hours earlier.
“It’s been an incredible feeling I think for all of us and obviously we are really happy,” Sinner said.
“We kept everything together and obviously yesterday we were one point away from being out – he saved three Djokovic match points – and now we can celebrate the win.
“I think we can all be very, very happy.”
Italy’s only previous Davis trophy came in 1976 in Chile through a 4-1 finals win by Corrado Barazutti, Adriano Panatta and Paolo Bertolucci.
Matteo Arnaldi got the side started as he beat Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
Australia have won the international team competition – now in a controversial reduced format played at mainly Spanish venues – 28 times but have not tasted success since captain Lleyton Hewitt played on the winning side two decades ago..
Australia lost the final a year ago to Canada at the same venue of the Spanish operated event.
Italy and the Aussies have now played four finals, with Australia leading 3-1.
Sinner said the team concept made all the difference on the day: “It helps a lot that (the last event of the season) is team competition.
“You get a lot of energy from your teammates, from the whole team,and the crowd (reaction) is different.”
Sinner never gave de Minaur a chance in their singles, running out the first set with two breaks of serve and dominating in the second as the record book beckoned.
Arnaldi’s win over Popyrin to secured the opening Italian point after just under two and a half hours of drama.
The Italian won the opening set but was ambushed as his 40th-ranked Aussie opponent reached 4-0 to win the second and set up a deciding third.
But Arnaldi put up a fight, saving a pair of set points at 1-5 before the contest headed into the final chapter.
The Italian stepped up his level, saving eight break points in the third set and finishing off victory with a backhand passing winner.
“It’s very emotional,” the winner said. “You don’t know what it means to me — and also for the country/
“I won one of the most important matches of my life; I don’t know what to say.”
Main photo:- Jannik Sinner and Italy celebrate Davis Cup win.
