MÁLAGA, Spain — In a moment of pure, unadulterated Davis Cup drama that will be etched into Italian tennis folklore, Flavio Cobolli saved seven match points to win a monumental 32-point tie-break, sealing a 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(14) victory over Belgium's Zizou Bergs and propelling Italy into its first final since 1998.
The 21-year-old Roman, playing in just his second-ever Davis Cup tie, collapsed to the clay in a mixture of exhaustion and ecstasy after Bergs sent a final forehand long, concluding a nerve-shredding contest that lasted three hours and 13 minutes. The victory gave Italy an unassailable 2-0 lead in the semi-final, with Jannik Sinner having dispatched Zizou Bergs' teammate, Joris De Loore, in the opening rubber.
An emotional Cobolli, fighting back tears, described the feeling to the press courtside, stating, "This is one of the best days of my life, for sure. To win a match like this for my country, for the team, for all the Italians... it's just incredible. I will never forget this moment."
A Rollercoaster of Momentum Swings
The match was a classic Davis Cup pressure-cooker from the start. Bergs, ranked 130th and playing inspired tennis, took a tight first set in a tie-break, capitalizing on a few loose errors from the young Italian. The Belgian's powerful serve and aggressive forehands seemed to have Cobolli on the back foot, and the prospect of a deciding doubles rubber loomed large for the Italian squad.
Cobolli, however, demonstrated a maturity beyond his years. He regrouped in the second set, breaking Bergs' serve early and maintaining his composure to level the match. The third set was a brutal war of attrition, with neither player able to secure a break of serve, setting the stage for a tie-break that would stretch the limits of physical and mental endurance.
The 32-Point Tie-Break: A Point-by-Point Battle
What unfolded next was one of the most epic tie-breaks in recent Davis Cup history. The standard first-to-seven-points format ballooned into a marathon, with both players having multiple opportunities to clinch the match. The sequence of match points saved and set points earned became a blur of tension, spectacular shot-making, and raw nerve.
The key moments in the historic tie-break included:
- Bergs' first match point at 6-5: Cobolli erased it with a bold forehand winner down the line.
- Three consecutive match points for Bergs at 9-8, 10-9, and 11-10: Cobolli saved them all with a combination of clutch serving and aggressive returns, refusing to yield.
- Cobolli's first match point at 12-11: Bergs saved it with a stunning cross-court passing shot.
- The final, decisive 32nd point: After a tense rally, Bergs misfired on a forehand, sending the ball long and the Italian team into a frenzy.
Italian captain Filippo Volandri, who made the bold call to select the younger Cobolli over the more experienced Lorenzo Musetti, watched the spectacle with a mixture of agony and pride. He later commented, "What Flavio did today is something special. It's not just about tennis; it's about heart. He showed the heart of a lion. We believed in him, and he believed in himself in the most difficult moments. This is what Davis Cup is all about."
Sinner Sets the Stage for Glory
While Cobolli provided the dramatic finale, the foundation for Italy's victory was laid by world No. 4 Jannik Sinner. In the opening rubber, Sinner delivered a commanding performance, dismantling Joris De Loore 6-2, 6-3 in just over an hour. Sinner's win eased the pressure on his younger teammate and set Italy on the path to the final.
Sinner, who has been in scintillating form throughout the latter half of the season, was a pillar of support from the sidelines during Cobolli's epic battle. He was the first to rush onto the court to embrace his victorious teammate, a moment that captured the unity of the Italian team. Sinner said of Cobolli's performance, "I am so proud of Flavio. He showed everyone what he is made of. To fight like that for our country is unbelievable. We are one team, and today we showed it."
A Nation's Hopes Restored After 25 Years
Italy's victory sends them into the final against Australia, a record 28-time champion. For a nation with a rich tennis history, this marks a return to the pinnacle of the team competition after a 25-year wait. The last time Italy contested the Davis Cup final was in 1998, when a team led by Diego Nargiso and Davide Sanguinetti fell to Sweden.
The current Italian team, a blend of established superstar Sinner and emerging talents like Cobolli, Lorenzo Musetti, and Matteo Arnaldi, represents one of the strongest Italian squads in a generation. Their run to the final, powered by Sinner's brilliance and now immortalized by Cobolli's heroic tie-break, has ignited tennis passion across Italy. As the team prepares for the final, they carry not just their own ambitions, but the hopes of a nation desperate to add a second Davis Cup title to its name, the first and only coming back in 1976.
For Flavio Cobolli, a player previously known mostly to dedicated tennis followers, his name is now synonymous with one of the great Davis Cup comebacks. In the cauldron of team competition, he found a level of grit and determination that defines legends. "I played for the people I love," he said, the magnitude of his achievement still sinking in. "This is for Italy."