Davis Cup 2023 Final: Australia vs Italy preview, head-to-head, prediction

This would be the fourth final meeting between these countries in the competition history.

Italy and Australia will face off in the grand finale of Davis Cup 2023, the most prestigious men’s tennis nations tournament, this Sunday at 8:30 PM IST. The beautiful city of Malaga, Spain, known for its rich history and vibrant culture, will play the perfect host to this much-anticipated final.

Australia, a nation with a rich legacy in the sport, will be looking to add another feather to its cap after narrowly missing out on the title in 2022 to Canada. With a remarkable 28 Davis Cup titles to their name, the last one dating back to 2003, the Australian team is no stranger to the pressures of the final.

On the other side of the net, Italy, who clinched their sole Davis Cup victory in 1976, will be aiming to make history once again.

Australia vs Italy preview

Italy, drawn alongside Canada, Sweden, and Chile in the group stage, had a rocky start with a loss to Canada. However, they bounced back with victories against Sweden and Chile, securing their place in the knockout stages.

In the quarterfinals, Italy faced the Netherlands. Despite an early setback with Matteo Arnaldi’s defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp, Italy turned the tide with Jannik Sinner’s victory over Tallon Griekspoor and doubles win by Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego.

The semifinals saw Italy pitted against Serbia. After Lorenzo Musetti’s loss to Miomir Kecmanovic, all eyes were on Jannik Sinner as he faced World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. Sinner rose to the occasion, saving three match points to win the final set 7-5. Sinner and Sonego then teamed up to clinch the decisive doubles tie, securing Italy’s spot in the final.

Australia, part of Group B alongside Great Britain, France, and Switzerland, finished as runners-up in the group stage. Their victories over France and Switzerland were instrumental in their progression to the quarterfinals.

Facing the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals, Australia staged a comeback after Tomas Machac’s initial victory. Alex de Minaur’s win over Jiri Lehecka and a doubles victory by Matthew Ebden and Max Purcell ensured Australia’s place in the semifinals.

In the semifinals, Australia took on Finland. Alexei Popyrin’s win over Otto Virtanen and Alex de Minaur’s triumph over Emil Ruusuvuori sealed a 2-0 win for Australia, propelling them into the Davis Cup final for the 49th time.

Head-to-head records

Matches — 12

Italy — 4

Australia— 8

Australia and Italy have crossed paths 12 times, creating a riveting narrative of competition. Australia, with its formidable tennis acumen, holds an impressive 8-4 lead in their head-to-head record.

The intensity of their rivalry escalates when we delve into their final history. The two nations have faced each other in the finals thrice, and each time, Australia emerged victorious, underscoring their dominance.

Where and how to watch live streaming and TV broadcast of Australia vs Italy, Davis Cup 2023, final match in India?

Sony Sports Network holds the broadcast rights for the Davis Cup 2023 Final in India. Tennis enthusiasts in the country can tune into Sony Ten 2 SD/HD channels to catch the live telecast on TV. Sony LIV will offer live streaming of the final clash on both the app and website, via subscription.

Prediction

Match 1: Alexei Popyrin (AUS) vs Lorenzo Sonego (ITA): Sonego, with his recent doubles victories and success on indoor hard courts, is expected to have a slight edge over Popyrin. Their first encounter is anticipated to be a close contest, but Sonego’s better singles form this fall could tip the balance in his favor.

Prediction: Sonego to win in three sets

Match 2: Alex de Minaur (AUS) vs Jannik Sinner (ITA): Sinner’s recent performance against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic and his decisive victory in the doubles rubber showcase his current form. Coupled with his 5-0 record against De Minaur, Sinner is the clear favorite in this matchup.

Prediction: Sinner to win in straight sets