Italy’s remarkable run in the Davis Cup continued this week as they claimed their third consecutive title, defeating Spain 2-0 in Sunday’s final in Bologna.
Even without marquee stars Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, the hosts delivered a composed and clinical performance, one that drew reactions from both Sinner and Spain’s absent talisman, Carlos Alcaraz.
Matteo Berrettini set the tone early for Italy, overpowering Pablo Carreno Busta in straight sets. Flavio Cobolli then sealed the championship with a gritty three-set comeback against Jaume Munar, sending the home crowd into wild celebration.
It marked Italy’s first Davis Cup trophy without Sinner in their championship streak, making the victory even more significant.
Both Sinner and Alcaraz had opted out of the tournament after their exhausting run at the ATP Finals in Turin earlier this month. Sinner, who won that event, shared his congratulations on Instagram, calling the result an “incredible victory” for his teammates.
Alcaraz, who had led Spain through earlier stages in previous years, also posted a message, praising Italy’s triumph while expressing pride in the Spanish squad.
Italy’s dominance throughout the week was clear; they swept Austria in the quarterfinals, Belgium in the semifinals, and now Spain in the final without dropping a tie.
With Captain Filippo Volandri guiding a focused and confident squad, Italy proved their depth runs far beyond their biggest names.
For Spain, the loss was disappointing, but the journey highlighted their emerging talent pool. And with Alcaraz still only 22, future Davis Cup battles between these nations promise plenty of drama.