Former Grand Slam winner says Italy’s latest Davis Cup win confirmed something which should worry other nations

Follow us on Google Discover

Italy won their third consecutive Davis Cup title last weekend in Bologna.

After Jannik Sinner withdrew from Italy’s 2025 Davis Cup Finals squad, some questioned whether they’d be able to defend their title.

They needn’t have worried, as Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini led Italy to glory in Bologna, defeating Austria, Belgium, and Spain 2-0, en route to the title.

Reacting to Italy’s latest triumph, 1976 French Open champion Adriano Panatta shared his thoughts about what the win means for the rest of the world.

Adriano Panatta says Italy’s Davis Cup three-peat confirms they are ‘simply the best’ in the world

During the latest episode of ‘Domenica Sportiva’ broadcast on Rai 2 HD, Panatta gave his verdict on Italy’s Davis Cup win.

“The victory was extraordinary for these guys, and I want to congratulate them so much because they lifted this trophy without [Jannik] Sinner and [Lorenzo] Musetti, our two strongest tennis players,” he said.

“[Flavio] Cobolli and [Matteo] Berrettini have shown that they are part of a real group, and their successes have confirmed something we already knew: Italy has a team that has nothing to envy of any other.

“Right now, we are simply the best.”

Italy are indeed the best, and remain the top-ranked international side in men’s tennis.

Davis Cup rankings (September 2025)

Panatta continued to praise Cobolli and Berrettini, who stepped up in the absence of Sinner and Musetti.

“Look at Berrettini, for example: he played two perfect matches against Austria and Spain,” he said.

“Flavio played with passion. The match between our player and the Spaniard whose name I don’t even remember [Jaume Munar] would normally never have taken place on any central court at any tournament

“Yet today he had the eyes of all of Italy on him, and this is a clear sign of how far we’ve come.”

Cobolli and Berrettini went unbeaten in Bologna (6-0), writing their names in Italian tennis history.

Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini at the 2025 Davis Cup Finals

• QF – Matteo Berrettini defeated Jurij Rodionov (Austria)
• QF – Flavio Cobolli defeated Filip Misolic (Austria)
• SF – Matteo Berrettini defeated Raphael Collignon (Belgium)
• SF – Flavio Cobolli defeated Zizou Bergs (Belgium)
• F – Matteo Berrettini defeated Pablo Carreno Busta (Spain)
• F – Flavio Cobolli defeated Jaume Munar (Spain)

Italy will no doubt be tough to beat in 2026, but which country stands the best chance of ending their unbeaten streak?

Team USA must finally step up at the Davis Cup

The Americans were stunned by the Czechs earlier this year, losing 3-2 in Florida as they failed to advance to the Davis Cup Finals.

Despite having one of the strongest teams on paper, the United States continues to struggle at the ‘World Cup of Tennis’.

However, if they can finally get their team fit and committed to play, they will surely be a side to look out for next year.

Alongside Italy, the US are the only other nation with two players ranked inside the ATP top ten, with Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton leading the way.

They have plenty more quality at their disposal, with 15 Americans currently ranked inside the top 100.

Americans ranked inside the ATP top 100

Only time will tell if the Americans can win their first title since 2007 next year, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action.

Team USA will begin their 2026 Davis Cup campaign in the qualifying round against Hungary on Friday, February 6.