Italy's Davis Cup dynasty remains alive after a heart-stopping 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(15) semifinal victory over Belgium on November 21, 2025, with 22-year-old Flavio Cobolli saving seven match points in what's being hailed as one of the tournament's greatest comebacks. The 17-15 final-set tiebreak – the sixth longest in Davis Cup history – saw both players trade championship points before Cobolli sealed Italy's finals berth with a service winner.
"This is what we train for – these moments where every heartbeat matters," Cobolli told reporters after the match, his voice cracking with emotion. The World No. 22's victory gave Italy an unassailable 2-0 lead, rendering the doubles rubber unnecessary.
Earlier in the day, former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini set the tone with a clinical 6-3, 6-4 win over Raphael Collignon. However, it was Cobolli's three-hour marathon against 43rd-ranked Zizou Bergs that captivated the Bologna crowd, featuring 27 aces and 48 winners.
Team captain Filippo Volandri praised his squad's resilience: "Five percent tactics, 95 percent heart – that's what carried us through." Italy now awaits the winner of November 22's Germany-Spain semifinal, with the championship match scheduled for November 23 in Málaga.
The victory extends Italy's Davis Cup winning streak to 13 ties as they chase an unprecedented third consecutive title in the competition's 125-year history. This year's final marks the sixth edition of the revamped Davis Cup Final 8 format, held at neutral venues since 2020.
