Davis Cup 2023 Final: Italy beats Australia to reclaim title after 47 years

This was also Italy’s first Davis Cup final appearance since 1998.

Italy ended its 47-year drought for a Davis Cup title by defeating Australia 2-0 in the final of the Davis Cup 2023 edition in Malaga, Spain on Sunday. Matteo Arnaldi and Jannik Sinner delivered the decisive points for Italy, champions in 1976, by winning their respective singles matches against Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur of Australia.

Arnaldi, the world number 44, gave Italy a 1-0 lead by edging out Popyrin 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in a thrilling encounter that lasted two hours and 37 minutes. The 22-year-old Italian traded breaks with Popyrin, WR-40, in a fiercely contested opening set before breaking in the 12th game to take the early advantage.

Popyrin bounced back in the second set, racing to a 4-0 lead and leveling the match with his aggressive play. However, Arnaldi showed his resilience in the decider, breaking Popyrin in the seventh game and holding his nerve to serve out the match.

Sinner, world number 4, then sealed the title for Italy with a dominant 6-3, 6-0 win over de Minaur, the world number 12, in just 81 minutes.

The 22-year-old Italian, who had saved three match points in his epic win over world number one Novak Djokovic in the semifinal against Serbia, continued his impressive form by dismantling de Minaur with his powerful strokes and precise angles.

Sinner broke de Minaur two times in the first set and three times in the second set, leaving the Australian with no answers. The Italian’s power off both wings and dominating the baseline exchanges was palpable as he clinched his 11th win in 12 matches in the Davis Cup this year.

Italy’s captain Filippo Volandri praised his players for their historic achievement, saying they had fulfilled their dream. This was Italy’s second Davis Cup title and their first final appearance since 1998 when they lost to Sweden.

Australia, the 28-time champion, was aiming for its first title since 2003 and its 29th overall, which would have brought them closer to the United States, who have 32 trophies.

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