Jannik Sinner powered Italy to a 2-1 comeback win in opposition to the Netherlands to safe a Davis Cup semi-final place.
Botic van de Zandschulp beat Matteo Arnaldi 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 7-6 (9-7) to offer the Dutch crew an early lead in Malaga.
Nonetheless, world quantity 4 Sinner pulled Italy stage with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-1 win over Tallon Griekspoor earlier than partnering Lorenzo Sonego to victory within the deciding doubles.
Italy will subsequent face Serbia, who beat Nice Britain on Thursday night.
Sinner, who was crushed by Serbia’s Novak Djokovic within the ATP Finals title match on Sunday, edged the opening set of his singles rubber in opposition to Griekspoor earlier than racing via the second in 20 minutes.
Italy captain Filippo Volandri changed Simone Bolelli with Sinner for the deciding doubles rubber, whereas Dutch captain Paul Haarhuis swapped in Griekspoor for Jean-Julien Rojer to associate Wesley Koolhof.
Sinner and Sonego gained 6-3 6-4 to ship Italy – winners in 1976 – right into a second successive Davis Cup semi-final.
“It means quite a bit to me,” Sinner stated. “However extra importantly we’re via to the semi-finals. It is the primary time I can expertise this.
“We had been below a variety of stress. The choice to place us on the court docket for doubles, we have now to offer a variety of credit score to the captain and the crew… pushing us to the restrict.”
The semi-finals will likely be performed on Friday and Saturday, earlier than the champions of the 123-year-old males’s crew occasion are determined in Sunday’s showpiece.
Finland versus Australia is Friday’s semi-final, with Serbia and Italy in motion on Sunday.