Cobolli wins epic tie-break to send Italy into Davis Cup final

After saving seven match points to defeat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs in a dramatic 32-point tie-break, Flavio Cobolli declared it “one of the best days of my life.”

After more than three hours, Cobolli tore off his shirt to celebrate as a party atmosphere erupted among Bologna’s home fans. He won 6-3,6-7, 7-6 (17-15), 6-3,6-7.

In Sunday’s final, two-time defending champions Italy will face either Spain or Germany following the thrilling conclusion, which is the sixth-longest tie-break in the Davis Cup’s 125-year history.

Cobolli comforted Bergs as his angstened opponent sat with his head in his hands on the Belgium team bench.

World No. 22 Cobolli said in an on-court interview that it was “really difficult to say something about this match.”

We fought hard and played for our countries in order to win. I finally realized my dream, and we are now in the final.

Filippo Volandri, the captain of the Italian national team, said: “I have never witnessed anything like that in my five years as captain.”

It was a truly unbelievable match. In the end, I simply stated that 95% heart and 5% tactics were involved. I’m very proud of the man who gave everything.

Matteo [Berrettini, Cobolli’s teammate], lost his voice, saying, “We have an unbelievable bench.

It is not the final game, though. Tonight we celebrate, and then we turn our attention to the competition.

Once more, Berrettini gave Italy the perfect start by dominating Raphael Collignon in straight sets with the support of the majority of the ten thousand-strong crowd.

Italy became the first country to reach three Davis Cup finals in a row since Australia did so in 2001 with Cobolli’s victory.

Italy will now aim to become the first country to win three consecutive Davis Cup titles for the first time in 53 years despite the absence of their top two men’s singles players, world number two Jannik Sinner and eighth-ranked Lorenzo Musetti.

Sinner, a key member of the Italian team that won the Davis Cup’s previous two editions, decided to maximize his recovery at the start of the sport’s brief six-week off-season after winning at the ATP Finals last week.

Discussions about the tournament’s future format have arisen as a result of the presence of just one of the top ten men’s players this year.

Both players discussed the privilege they felt competing for the host nation at the Finals after Berrettini and Cobolli made a statement about the performance for Italy in their quarter-final against Austria.

Both players fed off the enthusiasm of their home fans, who had already won back-to-back 2-0 this week, once more demonstrating that passion.

Bologna’s SuperTennis Arena, which had already become a roaring cauldron after Berrettini’s victory, reached fever pitch as Cobolli scored his match points on Bergs’ serve, but the Belgian twice held on with clutch serving to level at five games apart.

The setting was set for a grand finale, even though few could have anticipated the drama to come because the increasingly enthralled Cobolli had already shut down four break points in the deciding set that moment.

In a thrilling conclusion, Cobolli next had to withstand a number of match points, escaping four of them in just six points.

Despite the high stakes and enthralling crowd, the players kept getting better and maintaining their high standards as the score remained steady.

By the time Collignon lost 6-3, 6-4, Berrettini had again established the standard by setting the bar for his team-mate.

The former Wimbledon runner-up, who is ranked 56th overall, entered the first set after an early break, breaking immediately in set two when Collignon double-faulted twice.

However, when Collignon had his first chance to level at 2-2, his charge to the finish was slowed, and Berrettini, who had a sensational cross-court forehand to stop, was denied a fourth break for a 4-2 lead.