Jannik Sinner leads Italy to first Davis Cup championship in 50 years with victory over Australia

Jannik Sinner concluded a flawless week by leading Italy to its first Davis Cup triumph in nearly 50 years. Sinner, with a 5-0 record for the week, secured a pivotal victory over Alex de Miñaur, winning 6-3, 6-0 in the second singles match of the final against Australia. This victory gave Italy a decisive 2-0 lead and marked their first Davis Cup title since 1976.

The Italian team's initial point was secured by Matteo Arnaldi, who triumphed over Alexei Popyrin with a hard-fought 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 win. Sinner's remarkable week included defeating the world's top-ranked player, Novak Djokovic, in both singles and doubles matches during the semifinal clash against Serbia.

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At just 22 years old, Sinner's performance has been stellar, having beaten nine top-10 players since September. Reflecting on the victory, Sinner stated, "We are all very young. We are really hungry to try to win it one more time for our life, but having this feeling at least once, it is a really special feeling."

Arnaldi, ranked 44th, described his win as one of the most important matches of his life, having saved eight break points before securing a crucial break in the decisive third set.

Italy's historic win was particularly poignant as they had previously lost three finals against Australia, a team that boasts 28 Davis Cup titles but has not lifted the trophy since 2003. Australia, led by captain Lleyton Hewitt, expressed determination despite the loss, with De Miñaur stating, "We'll be back. We'll get this. I mean, we've got a very, very strong future ahead of us."

Matteo Berrettini, absent from the Italian team due to injury, received gratitude from Sinner for his support in Malaga. The Davis Cup Finals will return to Malaga next year, with Spain awarded a wild card for the group stage in Valencia. Italy and Australia, as this year's finalists, will also advance directly to the group stage in September, along with Great Britain, which lost to Serbia in the quarterfinals. The women's Billie Jean King Cup Finals will continue in Seville next year.

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