Sensational Sinner steers Italy to Davis Cup glory over Australia
The Hindu
Italy win Davis Cup for first time since 1976 as Sinner crushes De Minaur 6-3, 6-0. Arnaldi dug deep to beat Popyrin 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in opening clash. Sinner beat Djokovic twice in one day to eliminate Serbia. Italy's 47-year wait for title 3rd-longest in Davis Cup history. Sinner won all 5 rubbers he played in Malaga. De Minaur unable to match Sinner's relentless performance. Italy's women's team finished as runners-up in Billie Jean King Cup.
Italy won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1976 as Jannik Sinner crushed Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-0 to seal a 2-0 win over Australia on Sunday in Malaga.
The world number four clinched victory in the second singles rubber after Matteo Arnaldi dug deep to beat Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in the opening clash.
Sinner, who remarkably beat top-ranked superstar Novak Djokovic twice in one day on Saturday as Italy eliminated Serbia, secured his country’s second title against Lleyton Hewitt’s 28-time winners in style.
“I felt quite good today ... this is a really important win for me, the whole team and Italy together,” said Sinner.
“This is something different, really special, because you don’t play for yourself, you play for the whole team.”
The Italian demoralised the scampering De Minaur with a relentless performance, overpowering him with vicious ground-strokes to the delight of the majority of the packed Martin Carpena arena.
Sinner had won each of the five prior meetings between the pair and the world number 12 came no closer this time, brutally dismantled in 81 minutes.