Matteo Berrettini is a talismanic figure for Italy, as one of the most senior members of their Davis Cup squad.
And, despite a troublesome past few years, the 29-year-old is still happy to step into such a key role for a side under immense pressure at this event.
The two-time defending champions are seeking the ultimate glory of three in a row without their two star players, and so , Berrettini’s influence has arguably never been so important.
And, thus far, he seems to be doing a fine job, having just navigated his nation to another final.
However, despite the two straight-sets wins that got them there, it was not as easy as it looked.
Matteo Berrettini was keen to emphasise this.
Matteo Berrettini reacts as Italy reach a third straight Davis Cup final
Speaking to the Davis Cup press after his win over Raphael Collignon, he admitted there was a moment where fear and doubt started to creep in.
However, that is when he felt something ‘crazy’ occurred.
Is this current Italy team the greatest-ever Davis Cup team?
Berrettini recalled: “Obviously, I got worried. It was a break point at 3-2. I hit, like, a crazy passing shot. After that, it’s crazy how I got so many chances. Then he got a chance. The match turned back, as well.
“I was confident in my tennis. I was thinking if I get broken here, I still have the chance to win the match. I still have to fight. It’s going to be long for me and for him.
“That’s the kind of mentality that I always tell myself. I believe in my tennis. I believe that I was playing better than him for a long time. I just have to keep going and good things would have come eventually.
“Luckily, they came pretty soon and I won the match.”
What has happened at the 2025 Davis Cup Finals so far?
The two-time defending champions were always expected to be the favourites to retain their crown in 2025, although there were some doubts, especially after Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti withdrew from the Davis Cup Finals.
Both sought to prioritise rest, and the Italian media made it clear where they stood on that decision.
Alas, they have still cruised through the quarter and semifinals with relative ease, brushing aside Austria, and now Belgium, who had beaten France to reach that stage.
On the other side of the draw, Spain and Germany are yet to play in their semifinal. They meet today for the chance to try and dethrone Italy in the final.
The last 10 Davis Cup champions
These two nations both battled from a 0-1 deficit in their quarterfinal matches to Czechia and Argentina respectively, and boast a plethora of talent that could certainly threaten the reigning champions.
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