Singles players Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner secured the second win of the week for Italy and guaranteed a place for their team at the Final 8 of the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals.
Doubles pair Horacio Zeballos and Maximo Gonzalez earned a point for the Argentinians that could prove useful for their chances of qualifying, which are still alive pending Saturday's clash against Croatia.
The fact that Italy had already secured a spot in the Final 8 did not mean that its doubles pair was any less motivated. Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli made their Argentine counterparts fight until the very end for a win that was more important for the South Americans. In the end, Zeballos and Gonzalez prevailed 7-5, 2-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted 2 hours and 21 minutes.
Horacio Zeballos and Maximo Gonzalez
In the second match of the day, Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo had a tough Davis Cup debut with his team on the brink of defeat and Jannik Sinner on the other side of the net.
The Argentine world No.27 had chances in the first set but couldn't take advantage of any of the four break points that came his way. This cost him dearly as Sinner grasped his second opportunity for a break to take a 6-5 lead and then seal the set with his serve, 7-5.
Things started well in the second set for the Argentine, who broke Sinner´s serve twice to take an early 5-0 lead. Cerundolo's was putting a dent in Sinner's defence and levelled the score 7-5, 1-6.
In the first games of the decisive set, Sinner raised his arms to the fans, asking for more support. The Italian needed that extra help to fight against a revived Cerundolo. He finally got the break in the sixth game and from that point only needed to stay solid with his serve to seal the win 7-5, 1-6, 6-3.
Jannik Sinner
In the first match of the day, Italy's No.2 Berrettini defeated Sebastian Baez with ease 6-2, 6-3 in 71 minutes. The Italian was in control of the encounter from the start, not allowing Baez to get a single break point. The Italian was quicker, more aggressive, and more lethal with his serve. It was Berrettini at the top of his game.
Baez looked like he might come back in the second set; for a moment it seemed as if the Argentine could have a chance of causing problems for his opponent. But the comeback did not materialise. A bad service game allowed Berrettini to take a 4-2 lead.
The first match point didn't take long to arrive and Berrettini converted it with an ace, causing the Italian fans in Bologna to erupt in the stands.
"It was my best match of the week. The 6-2, 6-3 makes it look a lot easier than it was in reality", said a happy Berrettini.
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