Italy clinched their first Davis Cup victory since 1976 on Sunday when Jannik Sinner dominated Alex de Minaur, securing a 2-0 win over Australia in Malaga.
The world number four, Jannik Sinner, sealed victory by defeating Alex de Minaur with a score of 6-3, 6-0 in the second singles rubber, following a tough opening clash where Matteo Arnaldi beat Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
After defeating Novak Djokovic twice in one day on Saturday, Sinner’s remarkable performance led Italy to their second Davis Cup victory against Lleyton Hewitt’s Australian team.
Sinner commented, “I felt quite good today. This is a really important win for me, the whole team, and Italy together. This is something different, really special, because you don’t play for yourself, you play for the whole team.”
Italy celebrated wildly as Sinner demoralized De Minaur with a relentless and overpowering performance, securing victory in just 81 minutes.
With Italy last reaching a final in 1998, Australia’s wait for a Davis Cup trophy continues, with their last win dating back to 2003.
Italy was on the brink of elimination on Saturday, but Sinner’s remarkable display turned the tide, leading them to victory after a 47-year wait.
Sinner, who lost the ATP Finals showdown with Djokovic in Turin, won all five rubbers he played in, earning special credit for his stunning performances in Malaga.
Racing into a lead after breaking early in the first set, Sinner’s 19 winners to just five unforced errors in the second set sealed the victory, leaving De Minaur struggling to keep up.
Clinging on
Matteo Arnaldi had to cling on to beat Alexei Popyrin in the first match, expressing his emotional victory by saying, “I think I won one of the most important matches in my life, I don’t know what to say right now.”
With scattered breaks and scrappy play, Arnaldi finally ensured Italy’s lead in the decisive third set, securing his country’s victory in the tie.
“I will find ways to get better, to be able to hurt these types of players,” said De Minaur, reflecting on the game.
Victory completed a superb year for Italian tennis, after their women’s team finished as runners-up in the Billie Jean King Cup.
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Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.