Berrettini sinks Van de Zandschulp, puts Italy ahead in Davis Cup final
Italy is within one Jannik Sinner win of a successful defence of the Davis Cup in Malaga.
Matteo Berrettini overcame Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday afternoon to put his country 1-0 up against the Netherlands in the final of the teams’ event. With his 76-minute victory, Berrettini handed World No. 1 Sinner the chance to seal the title for Italy by beating Tallon Griekspoor in the second singles rubber of the tie.
5 ⭐️ BERRETTINI@federtennis are ONE WIN AWAY from defending their #DavisCup trophy! 🇮🇹@DavisCup | #DavisCup | @MattBerrettini pic.twitter.com/SS0f8QZ5Za
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 24, 2024
After a hard-fought opening, Berrettini won nine of 11 games from 3-4 in the first set to improve to 5-0 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Van de Zandschulp. The Italian, who has this year lifted ATP Tour crowns in Marrakech, Gstaad and Kitzbühel, won 86 per cent (30/35) of points behind his first serve and did not face a break point en route to victory.
Should Italy go on to lift the trophy, whether via a Sinner singles win or a deciding doubles triumph, it will be the first country to successfully defend the Davis Cup crown since Czechia in 2013.
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