(Málaga) Italy won the decisive point of the doubles against the Netherlands (2-1) and qualified for the semi-finals of the Davis Cup on Thursday in Malaga.
The Jannik Sinner-Lorenzo Sonego pair defeated the Tallon Griekspoor-Wesley Koolhof duo in two hotly contested sets (6-3, 6-4), during the decisive doubles of the quarter-finals.
Carried by an uncompromising Sinner (4th in the world) on his serve, the Italians managed to convert a break point in each set.
This allows Italy to advance to the semi-final where it will meet on Saturday the winner of the meeting between Serbia led by world number one Novak Djokovic and Great Britain, which was to begin late Thursday afternoon.
The other semi-final on Friday will pit Finland, defeating Canada, the defending champion, against Australia, victorious over the Czech Republic.
In the first two singles of the day, the Netherlands won the first point thanks to Botic van de Zandschulp (51st in the world), winner of Matteo Arnaldi (44th) 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 7 -6 (9-7).
Sinner then allowed the Transalpins to equalize thanks to his victory over Tallon Griekespoor (23rd) 7-6 (6/3), 6-1.
Griekspoor was the quickest in action, winning his service games much more easily than Sinner did, not hesitating on several occasions to follow his first balls to the net.
Jostled by a puncher imposing a sustained pace, Sinner knew how to bide his time like a champion: after a first alert in the form of two break points conceded at 4-4, the explosive Dutchman conceded five points in a row in the break of tie, won by Sinner 7 points to 3.
Sinner, more relaxed and playing more fluidly, hit the nail on the head in a one-sided second round, won 6 games to 1 in twenty minutes.
