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Matteo Arnaldi could not contain his emotions as his and Jannik Sinner’s heroics helped Italy lift the 2023 Davis Cup.
Italy defeated last year’s runners-up Australia in the summit clash on Sunday, November 26. The Italian squad had Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti, Matteo Arnaldi, Lorenzo Sonego and Simone Bolleli, with Filippo Volandri as the captain. Sinner and Arnaldi were in the driver’s seat in the final and got the job done in two matches.
Matteo Arnaldi, ranked World No. 44, was the first to take the court. He was chosen as Lorenzo Musetti’s replacement on the day and faced Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. This was the duo’s third clash of the year, with their rivalry tied at 1-1.
The Italian got off to a strong start, winning the opener 7-5. But he was unable to maintain the same level in the second set as Popyrin seized it 6-2.
Arnaldi struggled to find his form in the final set as well. He gifted his Australian counterpart eight break point opportunities but ultimately saved each one of those. The Italian then pulled a rabbit out of the hat on Alexei Popyrin’s serve at 5-4 in the decider, eking out a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 win for his country.
Arnaldi's emotions were visible following the victory as he ecstatically celebrated with his teammates. The 22-year-old then rushed to hug his girlfriend Mia Savio, a fellow tennis player from Australia, and fell into her arms crying.
In his on-court interview, Matteo Arnaldi revealed that his girlfriend lost an important person in her life last month.
“It’s very emotional. More because a very important person passed away a month ago for me and my girlfriend, so this is for him. She doesn’t know what it means for me. And also, for the country, but it was very emotional to play this event for me,” he said.
“I think now I won one of the most important matches in my life, so I don’t know what to say right now,” he added.
After Matteo Arnaldi's heroics, Italy's Jannik Sinner delivered the final blow against Australia in the Davis Cup 2023 final
Jannik Sinner had a tremendous ATP season in 2023, and he continued in the same vein during the Davis Cup Finals. In the quarterfinal against the Netherlands, the 22-year-old defeated Tallon Griekspoor, 7-6 (3), 6-1. He then carried Italy to the semifinals by winning the doubles against Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof, partnering with Lorenzo Sonego.
In the semifinal against Serbia on Saturday, Italy was on the brink of crashing out as Sinner found himself three match points down against Novak Djokovic in the second rubber. The Italian, however, showed immense resilience and eventually edged the World No. 1 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.
Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego then repeated their heroics in the doubles clash against Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic to book their place in the final against Australia.
After Matteo Arnaldi’s stunning display against Australia's Alexei Popyrin in the opening match on Sunday, Jannik Sinner clobbered Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-0. That gave Italy a historic second Davis Cup title, and their first in 47 years.
