Jannik Sinner led Italy to their second consecutive Davis Cup title with a commanding performance in Malaga.
The world number one capped off a historic year with a 7-6 (2), 6-2 win over Tallon Griekspoor, following Matteo Berrettini’s earlier triumph against Botic van de Zandschulp.
In a rematch of their group-stage encounter, Berrettini’s 6-4, 6-2 win set the stage perfectly for Sinner to close out the tie.
The occasion was doubly significant as it marked the first year the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup finals overlapped in the same city.
Italy achieved a rare double victory, having claimed the Billie Jean King Cup earlier in the week. Jasmine Paolini, who had an exceptional year with Grand Slam finals appearances and an Olympic gold medal in doubles, delivered the clinching performance for the women’s team.
Italy joins an elite group as the fifth nation to win both titles in the same season.
Jannik Sinner makes tennis history after Davis Cup triumph
Jannik Sinner’s 2024 season has been nothing short of historic with the 23-year-old stringing together over 70 tour wins this year.
He claimed his first two Grand Slam titles, adding to an incredible haul of eight ATP Tour trophies.
Finishing the year as world number one, he also posted an astonishing record of more than 18 wins against top 10 opponents – a record last achieved by Novak Djokovic in 2016.
In a crowning achievement, Sinner became the first player in tennis history to win two Grand Slams, the ATP Finals, and the Davis Cup in a single season.
The Italian has remarkably won the last 26 sets in a row, and finishes the year with a 92.41% win rate.
Italian tennis is on top of the world
Italian tennis is enjoying a golden era, standing tall as the sport’s dominant nation in 2024.
With nine men in the Top 100 and six of them in the Top 50, the depth of talent is undeniable.
Sinner and Jasmine Paolini have elevated the nation’s profile further, both reaching two major finals this year and leading their teams to Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup triumphs.
While much of the focus this season has been on the resurgence of American tennis – boasting Slam finalists and 10 players in the Top 20 across men’s and women’s rankings – Italy has backed up its rankings success with silverware.
The U.S., in contrast, faced early exits in team events, with the men’s Davis Cup campaign marred by questionable choices from captain Bob Bryan.
With Berrettini firing again and a constant stream of talent breaking through, with Sinner on top of the world, it may become difficult to wrestle the Davis Cup off them.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
