Davis Cup Semifinals
Italy defeats the United States to go to the Davis Cup semifinals against Canada. MADRID, Spain, Italy advanced to the Davis Cup semifinals for the first time in eight years after defeating the United States in a doubles showdown on Thursday.
Read more : Mexico Team World Cup | Ill be rooting for them, Sakkari says as he arrives in Guadalajara 2022After the singles matches were halved, Italy won 2-1 by to Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini’s 6-4, 6-4 victory against Tommy Paul and Jack Sock. Bolelli and Fognini broke once in each set to advance to Saturday’s semifinal against Canada, who defeated Germany 2-1.
Earlier, Lorenzo Sonego defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-6 (7) to give the Italians a 1-0 lead. Taylor Fritz leveled the match after defeating Lorenzo Musetti 7-6 (8), 6-3.
The United States has a record 32 Davis Cup titles, however the latest one was in 2007 under the former system of best-of-five matches contested in host nations rather than the revised tournament in which the final eight teams convene in one location for a week of tennis. The American squad, headed by captain Mardy Fish, arrived in Spain with great aspirations of breaking the dry drought.
“As a player and captain Davis Cup Semifinals, I’ve wanted to win this thing for a long time,” Fish said. “It won’t happen this year, and that sucks.” We’re going home without the trophy, which is unfortunate.”
Italy, which has won the Davis Cup Semifinals just once, triumphed without its top two players, Jannik Sinner, who has a damaged finger, and Matteo Berrettini, who is recuperating from a foot ailment.
Sonego, ranked 45th, hit 17 aces and never lost a service game against Tiafoe. Sonego won when Tiafoe missed a forehand during a protracted rally to seal the second-set tiebreaker.
Tiafoe, who reached the U.S. Open quarterfinals in September, won their lone prior match little over three weeks ago at the Davis Cup Semifinals.
Sonego took the initiative this time, according to Tiafoe.
“I was playing really aggressively a couple of weeks ago, chasing him around and hitting considerably harder.” “He was today,” Tiafoe stated.
Sonego forced the tiebreaker after saving two set points when serving at 6-5 in the second set. He said he was inspired by the raucous Italian supporters that came out to support him in Spain at the Davis Cup Semifinals, which is home to more than 250,000 Italians.
“I am really pleased of my squad and this incredible audience; it seems like we are in Italy.” “They have always been there for us,” said Italy captain Filippo Volandri.
