Fresh off US Open title, Jannik Sinner cheers on as Italy completes dominant Davis Cup week

Italy had already booked their spot in the Final 8 of the Davis Cup Finals, which will be held in Malaga, Spain in November, but a familiar face came to cheer them on on Sunday as they completed a dominant week in the Group Stage in Bologna, Italy.

Jannik Sinner, fresh off capturing his first US Open title, was on hand at Italy’s tie against the Netherlands, supporting them from the sidelines as Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli battled to wins over Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor, respectively.

Both singles matches went to three sets, with Berrettini coming back from a set down to defeat Botic van de Zandschulp—Carlos Alcaraz’s conqueror at the US Open—3-6, 6-4, 6-4, then Cobolli outdoing Griekspoor, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3, to clinch the tie.

Italy won all three of their ties this week, with 2-1 triumphs against Brazil on Wednesday and Belgium on Friday—and Berrettini was 3-0 himself, having beaten Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, 6-1, 7-6 (5), and Belgian Alexander Blockx, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5, before his latest victory over Van de Zandschulp, a former Top 30 player.

Italy are the defending Davis Cup champions, having captured the title for the first time in 47 years last November.

Sinner, who led the Italians to victory at the international competition last year, which included stunning Novak Djokovic from three match points down in Italy’s tie against Serbia in the semifinals, just made history last week, becoming the first Italian man ever to win the US Open—and just the second Italian player, male or female, after Flavia Pennetta won there in 2015.

The world No. 1 didn’t compete in Bologna this week to rest and recover from his run to the title at the last Grand Slam of the year.

His next scheduled event is the China Open in Beijing in two weeks. He’s the defending champion at the ATP 500 event.

As for who’s going to the Davis Cup Finals Knock-Out Stage in November, Italy’s going to have some tough competition.

Spain, led by Carlos Alcaraz, and Australia, last year’s Davis Cup runners-up, qualified in first and second place in Group B.

The United States, who currently have five players in the Top 20, and Germany, who have the No. 2-ranked player in the world right now in Alexander Zverev, qualified in first and second place in Group C.

And Canada, the 2022 Davis Cup champions, and a strong Argentinian team qualified in first and second place in Group D.

Italy will be joined by either Belgium, Brazil or the Netherlands as the second place qualifier from Group A.