In a night of pure drama and unrelenting tension at Bologna’s SuperTennis Arena, Flavio Cobolli delivered a masterclass in resilience, saving seven match points to lead Italy to a third consecutive Davis Cup final. It was the kind of performance that every fan dreams of, and Italy’s hopes for a historic three-peat are still alive.
A Rise to the Moment
Italy entered the semi-final against Belgium without two of its most prominent players. Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti were both absent, putting the spotlight squarely on emerging talent. Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli stepped up and rose to the occasion.
Berrettini struck first, defeating Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-4 to put Italy ahead 1-0.
Then came Cobolli’s moment: a three-hour epic battle with Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, a match that will go down in Davis Cup history.
The Marathon Match
Cobolli won the first set 6-3, but Bergs fought back to win the second in a tiebreak, demonstrating his own grit.
But the real drama came in the third set, a nerve-racking 32-point tiebreak that lasted nearly 17 minutes. At one point, Cobolli faced seven match points, but he found a way out with crushing serves, bold overheads, and calm under pressure.
On his seventh match point, he sealed the victory with an unreturnable serve that elicited wild celebrations from the Italian crowd. Cobolli’s joy was palpable: he ripped his shirt off in victory and went to console his opponent, a classy gesture that spoke volumes.
What It Means for Italy
Cobolli’s fight not only sealed the semi-final, but also gave Italy an unbeatable 2-0 lead, making a doubles match unnecessary. With that, Italy advanced to the final once more, a feat they could only dream of a few years ago.
Team captain Filippo Volandri was visibly moved by what he witnessed, describing Cobolli’s effort as “95 percent heart.” The Italian locker room must be buzzing, too, because their No. 22 player just delivered under the brightest lights.
The Bigger Picture
This victory brings Italy’s Davis Cup winning streak to 12 (or 13, depending on how you count ties).
If Italy wins the final on Sunday, they will make history by winning three Davis Cups in a row. This would make them the first country to do so since the old Challenge Round ended in 1971.
This match firmly establishes Cobolli as a true force in Italian tennis. When his country needed him the most, he did not hesitate.
Cobolli on the Moment
After the match, Cobolli was emotional but composed:
“We fought for our country, for this win … I played for all of my team, my family, and in the end I realized my dream. It’s one of the best days of my life.”
For a 23-year-old, those are heavy words — and even heavier actions. He delivered when it counted.
Looking Ahead to the Final
Italy is now waiting. They will face the winner of the other semi-final between Germany and Spain.
Whatever happens next, Cobolli has already given Italy something invaluable: belief. Moments like this in team tennis not only change the course of a game, but also define an era.