Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli won their singles matches to guide Italy to their third consecutive Davis Cup triumph, as the team beat Spain 2-0 in the best-of-three tie in Sunday’s final.
Playing in front of a raucous home crowd in Bologna, Berrettini handed Italy the perfect start by beating Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3, 6-4 before Cobolli registered a comeback victory over Jaume Munar, defeating him 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-5.
The victories gave Italy an unassailable 2-0 lead over six-time champions Spain, ensuring the Italians become the first team to win three consecutive Davis Cup titles in more than 50 years. The last country to achieve the feat was the United States (1968-72).
“It’s the third consecutive one. I’m crying,” Italy’s coach Filippo Volandri said.
“I didn’t cry for the first one. It’s unbelievable. This is a big, big team. Some of them not even here: [Jannik] Sinner, [Lorenzo] Musetti, and [Matteo] Arnaldi.”
Italy, who played without World No. 2 Sinner and World No. 8 Musetti, now have four Davis Cup titles overall, following victories in 1976, 2024, and 2023.
Cobolli, who recovered from dropping seven of the first eight games in his match, said it was “impossible to describe” his feelings after they sealed victory.
“I dreamed a lot for this night. I played an amazing match today. I don’t know how I won. The match was tough,” Cobolli said.
“We cannot lose for our country. Sometimes you learn, but you never lose. If you give all you have in your heart … I don’t know what I did today. I don’t know where I am. The only thing I know is that I’m world champion.”
Italy, who defeated former champions Czechia and Germany enroute to the final, are also the first non Grand Slam nation to win the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup titles in the same season on multiple occasions, following the U.S. and Australia.