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Matteo Berrettini defeated Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7(8-6) 6-3 7-5 in two hours and 43 minutes to put Italy ahead before world No.1 Jannik Sinner sealed victory by beating Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-4.

Italy will meet Netherlands in the final and could become the first nation to successfully defend its title since Czechia won in 2012 and 2013.

“It’s nice to be part of this again, because it’s an achievement to play the final in Davis Cup”, Sinner said.

 “Tomorrow is going to be the last official tournament day for all of us this season. Winning would mean so much to us, not only because the win but it means also that we defended our title.”

Kokkinakis was under pressure throughout the first set, saving break points at 2-2, 3-3 and 4-4 and two set points in a tiebreak the Australian somehow managed to win.

But Berrettini wasn't to be denied and took the next two sets to give Italy an advantage Sinner was never likely to relinquish, and so it proved as he broke De Minaur in the first set and took it with ease.

The second went much the same way, although De Minaur held on to 4-4 until he was broken, and Sinner sealed the set and the match from there, the Australia smashing his racquet in frustration as another defeat to the world No.1 started to sink in.

The result extended Sinner's unbeaten run in Davis Cup matches to eight and his streak of ATP wins to 14, having now won 26 consecutive sets across 13 matches.