Matteo Berrettini came back from one set down to beat Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 7-5 in the first semifinal match to earn reigning Davis Cup champions Italy a 1-0 lead over Australia. World number 1 Jannik Sinner beat Alex De Minaur 6-3 6-4 to complete a 2-0 win sending Italy into the final for the second consecutive year. Italy will face the Netherlands, who beat Germany 2-0 to reach the Davis Cup final for the first time in history.
Both Berrettini and Kokkinakis went on serve in the first five games of the opening set. Berrettini earned four break points in the first set but Kokkinakis fended them off.
Berrettini created two more break points in the 11th game and converted his first chance when Kokkinakis sent a forehand wide to earn the first break of the match to take a 6-5 lead, but Kokkinakis saved a set point before breaking straight back to force the first set to the tie-break. Kokkinakis saved two more set points at 4-6 before sealing the tie-break 8-6 when Berrettini hit a forehand into the net.
Kokkinakis earned the first break point of the match but Berrettini held serve to take a 2-1 lead. Each player held their next service game to love. Berrettini converted his second break point in a long eight game to take a 5-3 lead and served it out with a held to love to win the second set 6-3 forcing the match to the decider.
Kokkinakis saved two break points in the first game of the third set. Neither player faced any further break point until the 11th game when Berrettini hit a earned his first break with a forehand sliced retrieval from deep behind the baseline to take a 6-5 lead and served out on his first match point with an ace.
“After I lost the first set, It was not the easy to digest that, but when I am fighting for my country with this crowd, I kept on fighting. Some points sometimes are just changing the match, the momentum. I guess it’s coming from years of playing on clay, we use a lot of our hands. Maybe a little bit of genetics from my parents. I am going to give them the credit. It’s all about the energy, how you face the tough moments, but I got the break and I was able to finish. Kokkinakis is such a talented player, and when you play for your country, you just give your best. He won many ties, so I knew that he is a tough opponent. After I lost the first set it was not easy to digest everything because I had so many chances”, said Berrettini.
In the second match Sinner earned the first break of the match in the second game to take a 2-1 lead. De Minaur broke straight back and held serve to draw level to 2-2. Sinner earned his second break in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead with a drop-shot and served it out on his first set point in the 10th game.
Both players went on serve in the second set. De Minaur hit a lob in the sixth game as he fought back but Sinner was able to hold serve. The ATP Finals champion earned the first break points of the second set in the ninth game. De Minaur saved the first two chances but Sinner converted his third chance with a passing shot earning a chance to serve for the match. Sinner earned a match point with a smash and sealed the win when De Minaur went wide. Sinner improved to 9-0 in his his head-to-head matches against De Minaur.
“It means a lot. It was a tough encounter, playing Alex. We know each other quite well now so I have to be very careful every time. It is a very tough challenge for me, so I was looking forward to this one. Obviously it helped a lot that Matteo won his singles today. It’s going to be a very difficult and tough day for us and also the Netherlands”, said Sinner.
