Italy can be considered among the favourites for more Davis Cup success this year despite the absence of Jannik Sinner.
Sinner has been a key figure for the Italian Davis Cup team in recent years, helping them lift the trophy in both 2023 and 2024.
But Sinner is not playing in the Davis Cup this year, and neither is his ATP Tour rival Carlos Alcaraz for Spain.
However, the two-time defending champions still boast a very strong team, even with world number eight Lorenzo Musetti also deciding not to play.
Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli are in the lineup, along with Lorenzo Sonego, Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli.
Italy win Davis Cup match without star man Jannik Sinner
Roared on by their home fans in Bologna, Italy stormed to a 2-0 victory over Austria to secure a semifinals spot.
It’s the fourth successive year they’ve managed that feat, with Belgium representing their next opponents.
Will you still be watching the Davis Cup without Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner this year?
Berrettini beat Jurij Rodionov 6-3, 7-6(4) to give the host nation a 1-0 lead, with Cobolli securing the victory with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Filip Misolic.
Belgium meanwhile defeated France by the same scoreline thanks to wins from Zizou Bergs and Raphael Collignon.
Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini react after Davis Cup win vs Austria
It’s a first Davis Cup semi-final appearance for Belgium since 2017, confirming their status as the underdog against Italy.
The Italians won their past two titles in Malaga, but now have the chance to lift the famous trophy in front of their own fans.
Asked if he felt any extra pressure as the Italian number one playing at home, Cobolli said: “The same as always. I like the pressure. I like to play this kind of match. I mean, I really like the pressure.
“When I have the pressure, it means that I want to play, you know? So I feel great. I slept well, a lot of hours, so… at the end I was happy.”
And explaining the role the Davis Cup has played in helping him get back to the top levels of tennis, Berrettini said: “It’s so important. It’s so important. It’s always been so important.
“I understood throughout my career that living these kinds of feelings and emotions, atmosphere, is really what makes me feel alive when I do this sport.
“I know there are no ATP points. I know that it’s a competition that they say lost a little bit of value throughout the years.
“But I personally find the best feelings when I play. I’m not talking about my game, but the pride or the team effort, the chemistry that you build with your teammates.
“It’s so important and helps me so much, especially in the last two years when I was struggling a little bit. Sometimes I was struggling to find the right motivation to come back. Davis Cup was one of them. I’m so glad that I pushed through and now I’m here enjoying this time.”
Elsewhere in this year’s Davis Cup quarter-finals, Spain meet the Czech Republic, while Argentina take on Germany.
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