A dominant Jannik Sinner outclassed Australia’s Alex de Minaur to assist Italy safe their first Davis Cup title for 47 years.
Matteo Arnaldi beat Alexei Popyrin 7-5 2-6 6-4 in a nervy opening singles match to place Italy 1-0 up in Malaga, Spain.
Sinner then backed up his sterling week with a 6-3 6-0 win over De Minaur.
“It has been an unbelievable feeling for all of us, clearly we’re actually glad,” Sinner mentioned.
It’s the second time Italy have lifted the Davis Cup, having beforehand received the title in 1976.
There have been scenes of jubilation because the Italy workforce flooded on the courtroom to have a good time with Sinner, who raised his arms within the air after De Minaur’s backhand skewed huge to make sure victory.
Australia had been bidding for a twenty ninth Davis Cup title however have now misplaced back-to-back finals, having been overwhelmed by Canada final yr.
Sinner oozes class to safe victory
Italy arrived for the ultimate eight with some expectation round them, largely due to Sinner’s latest stellar kind.
The 22-year-old has misplaced simply three of his previous 23 matches, successful titles in Montpellier, Toronto, Beijing and Vienna, and beat world primary Novak Djokovic within the ATP Finals round-robin levels.
World quantity 4 Sinner had already starred for Italy on Saturday, saving three match factors in opposition to Djokovic to stage the tie in opposition to Serbia earlier than partnering Lorenzo Sonego to victory within the doubles to guide Italy’s ultimate spot.
Sinner set out his intentions early in opposition to De Minaur, breaking within the third recreation earlier than changing his second set level when the Australian overhit a lob.
A ruthless efficiency within the second set gave De Minaur no hope of a comeback as he struggled on serve, whereas Sinner revelled within the help from a raucous crowd.
It was a relentless efficiency from Sinner, who confronted only one break level within the match and transformed 5 of his personal 10 alternatives.
Earlier on Sunday, Arnaldi had received Italy off to a dream begin in opposition to Popyrin in a tense first singles match.
In a tough opening set, each gamers exchanged breaks of function Popyrin, ranked fortieth on the planet, saved set factors however was wasteful together with his personal alternatives, handing the Italian the primary set when he pushed a return into the online.
The Australian discovered his rhythm within the second set, racing to a double break benefit earlier than serving out to drive a decider.
However the nerves that appeared to have dissipated within the second set returned within the third as Popyrin squandered eight break factors earlier than Arnaldi seized his second on Popyrin’s serve, changing his first match level.
“I received one of the crucial essential matches in my life, I do not know what to say proper now,” an emotional Arnaldi mentioned on courtroom after his victory.
