Italy beat Serbia 2-1 in the Davis Cup semifinal in Malaga to reach their final at this event since 1998. Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic twice, first in the singles and in the doubles.
Miomir Kecmanovic came back from one set down to beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-7 (7-9) 6-2 6-1 in 2 hours and 24 minutes won four earlier today in the first match.
Kecmanovic earned an early break in the first game and consolidated it with a hold at 15. Musetti saved two double break points to hold serve in the third game.
Musetti broke back in the 10th game to draw level to 5-5. The Italian player won four points from 1-3 down to take a 5-3 lead. Kecmanovic saved two set points at 6-5 and 8-7 in the tie-break.
Both players went on serve in the first five games. Kecmanovic converted his third break point in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Kecmanovic won four consecutive games with two breaks to clinch the second set 6-2. The Serbian player cruised through to a 4-0 lead with two consecutive breaks and sealed the win on his first match point.
Jannik Sinner edged past Novak Djokovic 6-2 2-6 7-5 avenging his recent defeat against his Serbian defeat, who won their most recent head-to-head match in the final of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
Sinner improved to 2-4 in his career head-to-head matches against Djokovic and 2-2 this season. The Italian player beat Djokovic in the tie-break of the third set in the round robin match at this year’s Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
Sinner broke twice in the third and fifth games to win the first set 6-2. Djokovic clinched two breaks in the fourth and eighth games to seal the second set 6-2.
Sinner came through a 13-minute game with three serves at 0-1 in the third set.
Sinner was pushed to deuce at 2-3 and saved a break point at 3-4 with a drive volley. The 2023 Nitto ATP Finals runner-up fought back from 0-40 down at 4-5 to save three match points before breaking serve in the 11th game with a forehand down the line to take a 6-5 lead. Sinner served out the match to seal the third set 7-5. Sinner won 13 of the final 16 points from 4-5 0-40. Djokovic has lost from match point up for the fourth time.
“Match of my life ? I don’t know, but it’s very important. It helps a lot that it’s a team competition, because you get a lot of energy from your teammates, from the whole point, and then the crowd is different. I really enjoyed playing today. It was a great match”, said Sinner.
Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego beat Novak Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3 6-4 just hours after Sinner upset Djokovic in the singles match. Italy broke Djokovic’s serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead. Sinner served out the first set on the first set point with an ace.
The Italian team earned the first break in the third game of the second set. Serbia broke straight back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2.
Sinner saved four break points in the sixth game to hold serve from 0-40 down for the second time in the day. Sonego converted his break point in a 10-minute seventh game to take a 4-3 lead, as Djokovic missed a backhand at 40-30. Italy sealed the win on the first match point at deuce in the 10th game.
“I am just very happy for all of us and tomorrow we have a great opportunity. We know this, but we will try to stay as relaxed as possible, keeping a smile in our head”, said Sinner.
