Battling Cobolli sends Italy into Davis Cup final
Host Italy closed in on a third successive Davis Cup title as Flavio Cobolli saved seven match points to beat Belgium's Zizou Bergs in a thriller and seal a 2-0 semi-final victory.
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The 23-year-old Italian, roared on by frenzied home support inside SuperTennis Arena, clawed his way to a 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (17-15) victory with the third-set tiebreak one of the best in the competition's rich history.
Both players produced some spellbinding tennis in a series of punishing rallies in the breaker with the big-serving Bergs looking as though he would extend the tie to the doubles.
But Cobolli, who also failed to convert his first six match points, would not be denied and eventually fired down an unreturnable serve to spark wild celebrations in the stands.
"In the five years I've been captain, I've never seen anything like it," Italy captain Filippo Volandri said. "This match was incredible; in the end, it was 5 per cent tactics and 95 per cent heart."
Cobolli, who was a regular in the 2023 title-winning side, is playing as Italy's No.1 in the absence of world No.2 Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti and has risen to the challenge in magnificent fashion.
After thrashing Filip Misolic to seal Italy's comfortable quarter-final win over Austria he was pushed much harder by the world No.43 Bergs, who battled back from a slow start to stretch Cobolli to the limit.
"It's really tough to say something about this match," Cobolli said. "I played for all of my team, my family, and it's one of the best days of my life."
Earlier, Matteo Berrettini powered past Raphael Collignon 6-3 6-4 to put Italy in front. It was Berrettini's eighth successive match win in the competition after he won all six he played last year as Italy retained the title.
Italy will try to complete the three-peat in Monday's (AEDT) final against either Germany or Spain, which face off on Sunday (AEDT).
Should it prevail, it would become the first nation to win three successive titles since the Challenge Round was abolished after the 1971 event.
Italy, which is on a 12-tie winning streak, is the first nation to reach three successive Davis Cup finals since Australia in 2001, although Australia lost two of those.
