The Davis Cup stage has a capacity for creating tennis magic… Leonardo Mayer’s six hour plus match… Mikhail Youzhny coming back from two sets down in the last match of the final to help Russia overcome France in France… Pete Sampras’ heroics in the final in Russia … we could go on and on.
Yesterday in Bologna, Italy, there were two more examples to add to the list. Pablo Carrena Busta was down 1-6 in the second set tiebreaker and came back and won the match vs Germany’s Jan Lennard Struff 64 76 (6). Spain had been down 0-1 after Alexander Zverev beat Jaume Munar 76 76. The tie will be determined by the doubles match Pedro Martinez and Marcel Granollers vs Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz.
Then Flavio Cobolli saved seven match points vs. Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 63 67 (5) 76 (15) to send Italy to the final where it will try to win a third consecutive Davis Cup, the first time the feat has been achieved since 1971 by USA. Italy defeated Belgium 2-0. Matteo Berrettini beat Raphael Collignon 63 64 in the first match. Bergs had beaten Cobolli in Davis Cup last year 63 67 60 and Cobolli beat Bergs at US Open 2024 in four sets 46 63 75 63.
Steve · November 23, 2025 at 8:25 pm
The Italians get a three-peat and did it this year without their top two players. What a dynasty!!!
Scoop Malinowski · November 23, 2025 at 8:57 pm
Italy is the top superpower in tennis today. It’s official.
Scoop Malinowski · November 24, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Munar was complaining to umpire and Italy captain after losing to Cobolli. He complained that the person who was sick in the stands couldn’t have felt sick during such an important moment of the match. Was it an Italian scheme concocted to distract Munar? Hrbaty said a fan with a noisemaker rung it which made Rios double fault in their Davis Cup match and it swung the whole match around, at that point Rios was up two sets to love and then Hrbaty rolled through the next three sets. Amazing how one little distraction can change a match. )
Steve · November 24, 2025 at 4:16 pm
Ah, I wondered what Jaume was saying at the end there during handshakes with Cobilli & the captain. The home crowd advantage was a factor for sure. Cobilli and Munar are pretty evenly matched so the crowd can tilt the outcome.
Scoop Malinowski · November 24, 2025 at 5:28 pm
Especially a pre-planned distraction stunt at a key juncture of the match. Credit for Munar for figuring out the scheme and speaking up about it.
Scoop Malinowski · November 24, 2025 at 5:39 pm
At the time of the sick fan incident, Munar was up a set and a break, the incident totally stalled his rhythm and momentum.
Steve · November 25, 2025 at 10:33 am
The team has been practicing a long time:
https://youtu.be/c33vZ8DYLiA?si=l2tsXy8Cclv7g6m2
Scoop Malinowski · November 25, 2025 at 12:04 pm
They are the tennis super power now and they don’t need Sinner. Maybe they didn’t want Sinner on the Davis Cup team this year?