The first Davis Cup Semifinal will host Italy in Belgium on Friday afternoon in Bologna. Italy is expected to be led by Flavio Cobolli and Matteeo Berrettini, while the Belgians count on Zizou Bergs and Raphael Collignon.
Flavio Cobolli (ITA) vs Niasou Bergs (Bel)
Cobolli and Bergs will go head-to-head for the third time in their careers and second in the Davis Cup when they clash in the Italy vs Selgium Semifinal Tie on Friday in Bologna. They split two meetings last season; Cololli won 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 at the US open before Bergs won 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-0 a few weeks later in Davis Cup qualifying – again in Bologna. Cobolli may have the home court advantage, but it hasn’t made a difference for him in the last 14 games. The biggest factor would be the hard indoor court. Bergs has already won 95 matches in his career in this area, while Cobolli is a terrible surprise of 18-31 his life.
Pick: Bergs at 3
Matteo Berrettini (ITA) vs. Raphael Collignon (Bel)
Before Cobolli’s 6-1, 6-3 Victory over Filip Masip Manzini on Wednesday, Berrettini gave the first point with a 6-3, 7-6 (4) defeat of Jurij RodaionOV. Putting Berrettini in the lineup is a logical decision by Captain Filipto ValANDRI, as it increases and advance the use of a dangerous interior court player. Collignon has enjoyed his success on the road now, so this is essentially a toss-up – at least it would be if it was played somewhere other than Italy. Given these conditions and the home crowd, a narrow margin goes to Berrettini.
Pick: Berrettini at 3
