Italy received the Davis Cup for the primary time since 1976 as Jannik Sinner crushed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-0 to seal a 2-0 win over Australia on Sunday in Malaga.
The world quantity 4 clinched victory within the second singles rubber after Matteo Arnaldi dug deep to beat Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 within the opening conflict.
Sinner, who remarkably beat top-ranked celebrity Novak Djokovic twice in in the future on Saturday as Italy eradicated Serbia, secured his nation’s second title in opposition to Lleyton Hewitt’s 28-time winners in model.
“I felt quite good today … this is a really important win for me, the whole team and Italy together,” stated Sinner.
“This is something different, really special, because you don’t play for yourself, you play for the whole team.”
The Italian demoralised the scampering De Minaur with a relentless efficiency, overpowering him with vicious ground-strokes to the delight of the vast majority of the packed Martin Carpena enviornment.
Sinner had received every of the 5 prior conferences between the pair and the world quantity 12 got here no nearer this time, brutally dismantled in 81 minutes.
Australia’s anticipate a Davis Cup trophy goes on, with their final coming in 2003, however Italy, who final reached a remaining in 1998, celebrated wildly when De Minaur went large to finish the tie.
On Saturday Italy had been on the verge of elimination, however Sinner saved three match factors in opposition to Djokovic to drive a deciding doubles conflict.
“Yesterday we were one point away from being out and now we can celebrate winning, I think we can all be very, very happy,” stated Sinner, after ending Italy’s 47-year wait, the third-longest hole between titles in Davis Cup historical past.
Sinner, who misplaced the ATP Finals showdown with Djokovic per week in the past in Turin, deserves particular credit score for his beautiful shows in Malaga — he received all 5 rubbers he performed in.
Laser-focused from the beginning, he broke early within the first set for a 2-1 lead when De Minaur despatched a lob lengthy after which consolidated with a strong forehand.
The 22-year-old introduced up three set factors and clinched the primary set with the second of them when De Minaur volleyed past the baseline.
In the second set Sinner produced 19 winners to only 5 unforced errors to comb to victory.
“I will find ways to get better, to be able to hurt these types of players,” stated De Minaur, who additionally suffered disappointment with Australia in final yr’s remaining.
“Today I just didn’t have enough.”
Clinging on
Arnaldi needed to cling on to beat Popyrin within the first match.
“I think I won one of the most important matches in my life, I don’t know what to say right now,” stated an emotional Arnaldi.
“I’m sorry for Alexei, because he deserved to win, for sure — he was playing better, but sometimes Davis is like this.”
Arnaldi, ranked forty fourth, exchanged breaks with Popyrin and transformed his fourth set level to take a scrappy first stanza.
The Australian hit again strongly within the second, racing right into a double break and holding for 4-0.
Arnaldi lastly acquired on the board within the fifth sport however Popyrin — who produced six aces within the second set to the Italian’s zero — served it out to drive a decisive third.
The erratic Arnaldi saved break factors in his first, second and fourth service video games with out placing strain on Popyrin’s serve till incomes a break level which the 24-year-old saved, holding for 4-4.
Popyrin was on prime however couldn’t make it depend to get the breakthrough, with Arnaldi saving one more break level on his technique to a 5-4 lead.
Despite being outplayed for the most effective a part of the third set Arnaldi transformed his first set level to place Italy forward within the tie with a strong forehand, with Sinner finishing the job with out a fuss.
“(Sinner) backed up what he did yesterday against Novak and played extremely good tennis,” stated Hewitt, who performed for Australia final time they received the cup 20 years in the past.
“I think the conditions and surface suit him perfectly, as well, which makes life pretty tough.”
Victory accomplished an outstanding yr for Italian tennis, after their ladies’s group completed as runners-up within the Billie Jean King Cup.