There is no Jannik dinner. There is no carlos alcaraz. No problem. Both Italy and Spain have advanced to the Davis Cup Final without their best players. They will go head to head on Sunday afternoon in Bologna.
Flavio Cobolli (iTA) vs Jauume Munar (ESP)
Cobolli played the match of the tournament – and one of the matches of the year – on Friday, when he saved seven points and zizou zizou in zuzou of Belgium, 7-7 (15), 7-6 (15) after four minutes and four minutes. That result gave Italy a 2-0 sweep and sent the host nation into the Davis Cuff Championship Tie on Sunday in Bologna.
The Italy vs Spain Spolldown is expected to put the rubber between Cobolli and Manar, who will face it for the second time. They fell short earlier this fall to the Shanghai Kings, when Munar defeated them 7-5, 6-1. The world number 36 has been stellar throughout the year and continued in Bologna, where he upset Czechia’s Jiri LehecA 6-3, 6-4 before losing to Germany’s Alexander ZETTER IN THE LAST SEMIS. Although Cobolli was the one who enjoyed the day, that is not to worry that his selifinal rubber is a bigger challenge than Munar mentally and physically. Look for SPANIAD to come through, just like he did in Shanghai.
Select: MANAR in 3
Matteo Berrettini (ITA) vs Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP)
There is no reason for Italy or Spain to make any changes to the 2 Spot. Berrettini is 2-0 so far this week with straight wins over Jurij Rodionov of Austria and Belgium’s Raphael Corligyonion. Carreno Busta opened with a 7-5, 6-4 loss to Czechia Mensik but bounced back to beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 7-6 (6) on Saturday. The 34-year-old trailed 6-1 in the timebreak set aside in that match.
Berrettini and Carreno Busta will go head-to-head for the third time in their careers. They split the two meetings in 2022, with the Italian winning 7-5, 7-6 (4-6 (4-4 (4-4) at the Australian Open before the Spaniard got the job done 6-3, 6-2 at the Montreal Kings. Berrettini is healthy, playing well, and is a strong indoor player, so look for him to make his home advantage in front of what will be a close Italian crowd.
Pick: Berrettini at 2
WATCH OUT FOR: ITALY 2-1
