Matteo Berrettini (28) delivered a brilliant performance to give defending Davis Cup champions Italy a 1-0 lead over the Netherlands in Sunday’s final, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp (29) 6-4, 6-2.
The world number 35 fought hard to win the first set, but truly hit his stride in the second, leaving the Dutchman with no chance in Malaga. The match ended in 76 minutes.
World number one Jannik Sinner will now face Tallon Griekspoor in the second singles match, aiming to secure a second consecutive Davis Cup victory for Italy.
Berrettini, who was forced to miss Italy’s 2023 triumph due to an ankle injury, has been pivotal in his country’s Davis Cup defense. The 28-year-old teamed up with Sinner to help Italy secure a doubles victory over Argentina in the quarter-finals and later won his singles rubber against Thanasi Kokkinakis in the semi-finals.
“It feels unbelievable, really great to be back on court – winning is even better, but just being healthy, here, and enjoying the atmosphere is the most important thing for me because I missed that,” said Berrettini. “I missed these moments, so I’m really happy. We still have one more match hopefully, but the first step has been taken.”
The man of the moment 😍#DavisCup | @MattBerrettini pic.twitter.com/h0VzxQz28U
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 24, 2024
Van de Zandschulp, ranked 80th, had made history earlier in the week as the last player to defeat the retired Spanish legend Rafael Nadal, helping the Netherlands reach their first Davis Cup final in 104 years.
However, he was thoroughly outclassed by Berrettini, who seized control in the ninth game of the first set. The Italian created three break points and capitalized on the first, breaking serve to take a 5-4 lead when Van de Zandschulp sent a shot into the net.
In the second set, Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up, broke serve in the third and seventh games. The Italian fired 10 forehand winners and 16 aces on his way to victory, closing out the match on his second match point.
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