Berrettini gets Italy off to best start in Davis Cup final

Matteo Berrettini got Italy off to the best start possible in their Davis Cup final against the Netherlands, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-2 in the first singles match of the day.

“It feels unbelievable – it feels really good to be on court. If you win, it’s better!” Berrettini said afterwards. “I missed these moments [when out through injury].”

It was a great display on serve from the Italian – with 16 aces, plus 86 per cent of first serves won, in a match that lasted only 76 minutes.

Berrettini broke to love to take a 5-4 lead, giving himself the chance to serve out the first set – which he did with a second serve that van de Zandschulp could only tap into the net.

Berrettini piled on the pressure at the start of the second. Van de Zandschulp could do nothing about a rocket of a forehand down the line to see Italy to break point, and a double-fault handed Berrettini the game.

And the Italian continued his fine shot-making throughout the second set, finding his groove and continuing to hit his forehand superbly together with some magnificent cross-court chips.

It was a well-deserved and decisive victory for Italy’s No 2 singles player over a man who had won his other two singles matches in Malaga this week.

Tallon Griekspoor now has a very tough task in front of him – knowing he needs to beat world No 1 Jannik Sinner to keep his country in with a chance of winning the Davis Cup for the first time ever.

You might also like this

Scintillating Sinner breezes past De Minaur to return Italy to Davis Cup final

tennis majors

“Alcaraz can create more, but with Sinner, you’re in danger on every single shot” – Mouratoglou

tennis majors

Sinner tops ATP money list as 71 men earn $1 million or more

tennis majors