The championship-clinching victory followed Matteo Arnaldi’s hard-fought win against Alexei Popyrin in the opening clash, where Arnaldi emerged triumphant with a scoreline of 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.
Sinner’s exceptional form continued
Sinner, who had defeated world number one Novak Djokovic twice in one day in the semifinals, continued his exceptional form to secure Italy’s second Davis Cup title. Reflecting on the achievement, Sinner expressed the significance of the win for himself and the entire team.
“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,” said Sinner.
Sinner too good for Australia’s De Minaur
Australia’s hopes were dashed as De Minaur struggled against Sinner’s relentless ground-strokes. The Italian, ranked 12th in the world, demonstrated his superiority, securing victory in just 81 minutes.
Italy’s journey to the title was marked by a remarkable comeback. On the brink of elimination on Saturday, Sinner saved three match points against Djokovic, forcing a deciding doubles clash that ultimately led to their triumph.
Rollercoaster campaign for Italy
“I think we can all be very, very happy,” said Sinner, highlighting the emotional rollercoaster of going from the verge of elimination to celebrating the Davis Cup victory.
Arnaldi, emotional after his crucial win in the opening match, acknowledged the tough competition and the significance of his victory. “I think I won one of the most important matches in my life. I don’t know what to say right now,” he said.
Historic year for Italian tennis
The Davis Cup victory completes a historic year for Italian tennis, with their women’s team finishing as runners-up in the Billie Jean King Cup. Italy’s triumph in the Davis Cup comes after a 47-year wait, making it the third-longest gap between titles in Davis Cup history.
(With inputs from AFP)
