Poor Alex De Minaur. The Australian did not weigh heavily on Sunday against Hurricane Jannik Sinner. The world number 4 swept the 12th (6-3, 6-0) on Sunday in Malaga to offer the Davis Cup to Italy, while Matteo Arnaldi (44th) obtained the first point thanks to his success against the 40th, Alexei Popyrin (7-5, 2-6, 6-4). Forty-seven years after their first victory in the competition, in 1976, the Transalpines were once again able to brandish the “Silver Salad Bowl”, carried by their best player who flew through the week.
The 22-year-old won all five matches he played in Malaga, two in doubles and three in singles. Sinner concluded a perfect week, launched by a victory in the quarter-final against the Netherlands (2-1) then by a prestigious success against Novak Djokovic’s Serbia.
The young Italian disgusted the world number 1 who had nevertheless beaten him the previous Sunday in the Masters final, by erasing three match points in the singles before winning, then dominating him again during the doubles disputed with Lorenzo Sonego.
Italy succeeds Canada
“Yesterday, we were on the verge of being knocked out and now we’re going to be able to celebrate, it’s great,” said the winner of the Masters 1000 in Toronto this year. This victory allows Italy to rise to the height of Croatia with two titles, while the Australians presented themselves against them with immense experience with 28 victories in 49 finals. Captain Filippo Volandri’s team succeeds Canada in the Davis Cup rankings.