Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini sealed the Final 8 tie over Argentina with a decisive doubles 6-4 7-5 win over Maximo Gonzales and Andres Molteni to set up a re-match of last year’s Davis Cup Final against Australia.
Berrettini and Sinner won 90% of their first points and saved all five points they saved. They earned a break in the 11th game to take a 6-5 lead.
“I think we have some very good choices to put on the court. Today was this choice because I played the first match, and it was not long, so I felt physically ready. Matteo played unbelievable. He carried me. This means so much to us and I am happy to play doubles with him”, said Sinner.
Francisco Cerundolo cruised past Olympic bronze medallist Lorenzo Musetti 6-4 6-1 after 90 minutes in the opening singles match.
Musetti earned an early break to open up a 2-0 lead when Cerundolo made a double fault in the first set.
Cerundolo pulled back on serve in the third game when Musetti hit a forehand wide. The Argentine player earned a break in the seventh game to take a 4-3 lead. Musetti broke straight back in the eighth game to draw level to 4-4. Cerundolo broke again in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead and served out at love. Cerundolo broke twice in the first and fifth game to open up a 4-1 lead and consolidated the break with a hold at love. The Argentine player broke at love in the seventh game on Musetti’s final service game to close out on his first match point.
“I played one of the best matches of the year. I knew I had to win because the tie was super close”, said Cerundolo.
World number 1 Jannik Sinner kept Italian hopes alive by beating Sebastian Baez 6-2 6-1. Sinner tied the quarter final against Argentina to 1-1 forcing the match to the decisive doubles. Sinner earned the first break in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. The world number 1 served out the opening set 6-2 with a break on his sixth point.
Sinner broke in the second and fourth games of the second set before saving four break points to hold a tough service game. The Italian player closed out the match on his next service game with his tenth winner after 72 minutes.
“It was a must-win match. The conditions were very different. The court is very fast and tough to play. I have not much time to adapt to it, but I am happy to keep Italy alive. Last year we had great memories, now let’s see what’s coming”, said Sinner.
