14 match factors got here and went in a wild back-and-forth last set of Flavio Cobolli’s 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(15) victory over Zizou Bergs on Friday in Bologna, because the Italian staff answered the bell in essentially the most dramatic trend to succeed in the Davis Cup Finals for a 3rd consecutive yr.
At 17-15, the epic tiebreak goes down because the sixth longest tiebreak in Davis Cup historical past and fifth longest singles tiebreak in Davis Cup historical past.
Two-time defending champions Italy defeated Belgium 2-0 to succeed in the ultimate, however the rating of Friday’s tie does nothing to explain the sheer drama that unfolded in Friday’s second rubber on the SuperTennis Enviornment in Bologna.
Cobolli and Bergs battled throughout a wild 94-minute last set to maintain Italy’s three-peat hopes alive, the staff displaying its depth with out the companies of Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti to set a last with the winner of Saturday’s semifinal between Spain and Germany.
“On the finish I spotted my dream,” Cobolli mentioned. “We’re within the last now. It is without doubt one of the greatest days of my life.”
Earlier on Friday it was Matteo Berrettini who got here by to defeat Raphael Collignon within the first tie of Friday’s semifinal.
“It’s all about preventing in your nation and in your staff, and that’s what I’m doing proper now,” Berrettini mentioned after his 6-3, 6-4 win.
“Stress is a privilege, proper?” Berrettini mentioned. “My entire household is right here, which by no means occurs, my teammates, we’re such good pals, it’s such a particular second for me. Simply benefit from the second, that’s the key.”
Bergs and Cobolli’s Traditional
Nobody had any concept what was in retailer for them when the second-set tiebreak between Cobolli and Bergs commenced. Would it not be the Italian in straights? He was definitely taking part in properly sufficient to do it, however credit score Bergs, who confirmed monumental coronary heart and keenness on this contest to win the breaker and drive a 3rd set.
Quickly the pair would discover themselves weaving one other chapter into the annals of Davis Cup historical past with a dramatic end that went far past expectations.
Bergs saved a pair of match factors whereas serving at 4-5 within the third, bravely swatting apart the immense stress to play with readability and maintain himself alive – it was only the start.
He practically jumped forward within the subsequent recreation however Cobolli answered the bell by saving a break level as Bergs went for a backhand down the road winner that missed properly huge of the sideline.
Bergs had a pair of match factors within the tiebreak at 6-4, however ripped a forehand lengthy on the primary – maybe he was a bit too wanting to win it.
Cobolli made a second serve and lured Bergs right into a backhand error to degree at 6-all.
“On the finish I used to be glad,” Cobolli later mentioned. “I didn’t know concerning the match factors. I requested the staff, what was the rating within the tiebreak, as a result of I didn’t know. I didn’t keep in mind. I used to be actually glad about this match. Nice curler coaster, however on the finish I used to be glad about my match, what I did within the match. I feel I had an ideal perspective for all of the match. Now I’m slightly bit drained, however I’m able to recuperate for the following days.”
Two match factors had come and gone for each at this level, and the dueling fan bases in Bologna had been screaming for a 3rd because the pair went to a second change of ends within the last set tiebreak.
Cobolli missed a forehand huge, giving Bergs a 3rd match level on serve, at 7-6.
It was Cobolli’s time to shine as he progressed by a prolonged level and eventually completed it with a crosscourt smash off the again foot – an amazing play given the stress of the second.
7-7, however a giant serve gave Bergs a fourth match level, which was then saved by a giant serve by Cobolli, 8-8. One other service winner, out huge, gave Cobolli a 3rd match level and launched a collective growl of pleasure from the Italian followers.
Bergs wouldn’t be denied. He yanked a backhand crosscourt and snuck in to make a unprecedented volley winner. A 3rd match level saved by the Belgian, 9-9.
A smash down the center gave Bergs his fifth match level on Cobolli’s serve, which was rapidly saved by the Italian with a serve plus one forehand winner down the center. 10-10. Cobolli had one other match level, with Bergs serving at 10-11, however the Belgian was too good from the baseline. 11-11.
Cobolli’s fifth match level turned out to be one other probability for Bergs to lift his degree. He performed a powerful baseline level and ripped an inside-out winner to degree at 12.
Wow.
5 match factors had come and gone for each, the gang was now whipped right into a frenzy between factors.
They acquired louder as Cobolli reached a sixth match level, but it surely went begging as a Bergs first-serve discovered the road down the T for a winner. 13-13.
Cobolli then saved a sixth match level with a giant serve, for 14-all, however then missed a drive volley lengthy to offer Bergs a seventh match level, behind his serve.
No such luck for the Belgian, who was seen at his bench in tears after the drama had unfolded. For each winner in Davis Cup, there have to be a heartbroken loser.
Lastly, it could be Cobolli who discovered the dagger. He gained Bergs’ last two service factors then transformed his seventh match level on serve to shut the epic battle after 12 match factors saved within the tiebreak, and fourteen throughout the ultimate set.
“I feel this match you solely have in Davis Cup,” mentioned Italian captian Filippo Volandri. “We noticed two nice gamers combat for his or her nation. They each did an unbelievable job. Just one [could] win. Ultimately we did it. That’s what I mentioned to Flavio. I instructed him that he wished it greater than the opponent. I don’t know if it was true or not. Ultimately that is one thing unbelievable.”
