Davis Cup Finals 2022: Italy beats USA 2-1 to enter first semi-finals since 2014

In the semi-finals, the men in blue led by captain Filippo Volandri will face the winner of Germany's international match against Canada.

Fabio Fognini in a file photo (Image credits: Twitter)
By Nilavro Ghosh | Nov 24, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

After the first two singles games against the United States were tied at 1-1, Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini won the decisive doubles match 6-4, 6-4 after 1 hour and 19 minutes. In the semi-finals, the men in blue led by captain Filippo Volandri will face the winner of Germany’s international match against Canada. After defeating Frances Tiafoe 6-3 7-6 (7) on Thursday, Lorenzo Sonego gave Italy a 1-0 lead over the United States in the Davis Cup quarterfinals. Sonego, ranked 45th, hit 17 aces and never gave up a service game on Málaga’s indoor hard court. Sonego won after Tiafoe netted a forehand after a long rally to end the second-set tiebreaker. Tiafoe, who reached the U.S. Open semifinals in September, won their only previous meeting this month at the Paris Masters.

“I felt like a lot of the points he was dictating, he was running me around, he was more the aggressor. He served well. He served really well, I thought,” Tiafoe said. “I just wasn’t as aggressive as I have been. I was a bit more tentative, and he took advantage of that.

Fritz’s form continues

After Taylor Fritz defeated Lorenzo Musetti in a thrilling match in Malaga, the United States set up the first deciding doubles match of the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals 2022. Musetti of Italy attempted to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Lorenzo Sonego, who defeated Frances Tiafoe earlier in the day, in a match full of explosive hitting.

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Despite his opponent’s extravagant game and the fervent Italian support, Fritz proved too strong. It caps off a fantastic year for Fritz, who qualified for and reached the semi-finals of the ATP Finals earlier this month, and now sets up a thrilling deciding match in the first of two quarter-final ties on Thursday.

“When you’re playing for a team, more people than just yourself, you feel it,” said Fritz, afterwards. “But I felt good today, confident and not too nervous. Team competitions are great, being with all these guys. We’re all such good friends and it’s great to be able to represent our country.”

The United States has a record 32 Davis Cup trophies, but the last one was in 2007 under the previous format of ties being held at host countries rather than the revamped event in which the final eight teams gather in one location for a week of tennis. Croatia, led by Marin Cilic, advanced on Wednesday after defeating a Spain team missing Rafael Nadal and No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.