Davis Cup: Italy wins double, Sinner ends 2024 on a high note

An overwhelming domination: led by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Italy won its second Davis Cup in a row on Sunday in Malaga by beating the Netherlands, four days after the women's team won the BJK Cup.

As in the semi-final against Australia, the Italian team won its two singles matches to defeat the Dutch, who beat Spain's Carlos Alcaraz (3rd) and Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals and are in search of a first title in the competition.

Matteo Berrettini (35th) swept aside Botic van de Zandschulp (80th) 6-4, 6-2 in just over an hour and a quarter before Jannik Sinner defeated Tallon Griekspoor (40th) 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, valiant but powerless against the transalpine ogre.

Filippo Volandri's players have thus become the first to retain their Davis Cup title since the Czech Republic, winners in 2012 and 2013.

The 2023 and 2024 titles are “difficult to compare”, said Jannik Sinner in a press conference.

“Last year, we went all the way to the deciding doubles in the semi-finals. It's clear that not having to play a deciding doubles or stay two hours longer makes a big difference”, said the world number one.

Jannik Sinner carried in his arms by his captain Filippo Volandri after bringing the title point for Italy in the Davis Cup final on November 24, 2024 in Malaga © AFP – Thomas COEX

Italy is the sixth nation to win two consecutive Silver Bowls after the United States, Sweden, Germany, Spain and the Czech Republic.

The victory is all the more beautiful for the now triple champions (1976, 2023, 2024) as the Italian players had already triumphed on Wednesday against Slovakia in the final of the BJK Cup, the national team competition that succeeded the Fed Cup.

Only four countries had ever achieved such a feat: the United States on seven occasions (1963, 1969, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982 and 1990), Australia on three occasions (1964, 1965, 1973), the Czech Republic in 2012 and Russia in 2021.

“Twice champions, for the girls and then for the boys. It's incredible!” exclaimed Italian captain Filippo Volandri shortly after the victory.

– “Take nothing for granted” –

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On an individual level, the transalpine victory concludes an almost perfect season for Jannik Sinner, winner of the Australian Open, the US Open and the ATP Masters in Turin, his first trophy won on home soil.

The jubilation of the Italian Davis Cup team after its title won at the expense of the Netherlands in the final on November 24, 2024 in Malaga © AFP – JORGE GUERRERO

“I have accomplished great things this year”, but “I try not to take anything for granted”, assured the world No. 1.

Above the red curls of the young 23-year-old champion hangs the threat of a one- to two-year suspension, requested by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after Sinner tested positive for clostebol (an anabolic) twice in March.

The Italian, who is awaiting a decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the coming weeks, pleads his innocence and believes he was accidentally contaminated by his medical staff.

“It's been on my mind a bit,” but “I'm not worried,” assured the Italian on Sunday after the final.

“The most important thing is that everyone around me, who knows me as a human being, believes me,” which is the case according to Sinner.

“That's also why I continued to play at my level,” concluded the Italian, who has only conceded one defeat since his positive tests were revealed, against world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the ATP 500 in Beijing.

And he hasn't lost a single set since October 6, even though Tallon Griekspoor came close to snatching the first set on Sunday.

Italian Jannik Sinner in the second singles of the Davis Cup final against Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor on November 24, 2024 in Malaga © AFP – Thomas COEX

The Dutch could have consoled themselves for their defeat with the satisfaction of having reached the first final in their history, 23 years after a semi-final loss against France which was until then their best performance.

But the Netherlands could have “gone home on Friday (the day they qualified for the final, Editor's note) with the same result”, complained the Dutch captain Paul Haarhuis, before qualifying his remarks.

“We are just after the match. Later this evening or tomorrow, I will be very proud of what we have done”, he said at a press conference.

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