Italy top Australia in Davis Cup final
Heading into the 2023 Davis Cup, Australia were one of the favourites, according to the betting sites at least. Only Serbia had better betting odds. Italy were ranked just behind Australia.
Both sides lived up to the hype at the tournament. Australia advanced from a tough group with Great Britain, France, and Switzerland. They then knocked off the Czech Republic and Finland on route to the final. Italy narrowly survived a group with Canada, Chile, and Sweden before turning it on in the knockout rounds and defeating The Netherlands and Novak Djokovic’s Serbia.
Once in the final, only one team looked like they deserved to be there. Australia’s Alexei Popyrin had numerous chances to put away Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, but could not get the job done. He ended up suffering a heartbreaking 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 defeat.
Alex de Minaur had a chance to play hero and upset his rival Jannik Sinner, but also could not get it done. Sinner had beaten de Minaur five previous times leading into this match. He continued his dominance against de Minaur and quickly dispatched him 6-3, 6-0. Just like that, Australia were defeated and Italy were named Davis Cup champions.
Australia tennis reacts to loss
Comments from Australia tennis boss Lleyton Hewitt and Alex de Minaur summed up the Aussie’s finals loss perfectly. Hewitt said after the match that his side did everything possible to get a good result before suffering an agonising loss. “We did absolutely everything we possibly could have and we have come agonisingly close yet again,” said Hewitt.
De Minaur concurred with his coach while also emphasising his own role in Australia’s loss. “Today I just didn’t have enough. I’m disappointed I wasn’t able to give the boys a chance to play the doubles, that’s probably the biggest disappointment,” the Australian number one said.
Alexei Popyrin, whose opening loss set the tone for Australia in the final, said “I felt like I was in control from the second set onwards…It’s just painful that I couldn’t get us off on the right foot.”
Australia’s long wait for 29th title gets longer
Australia is the second best nation in Davis Cup history. Only the United States, who has won the tournament 32 times, have more victories than the Aussie’s 28 Davis Cup wins. Australia’s last win came in 2003.
After losing in the final last year, there was some belief among the Australia camp that this would be the year they would break their drought. It would be fitting considering it is also the 20-year anniversary of their last win. However, it was not to be.
Instead of the Australians picking up their 29th title, Italy picked up their second ever Davis Cup win. The Italians won their first all the way back in 1976. With young talent like Jannik Sinner and Matteo Arnaldi, the Italians are hoping they will not have to wait nearly as long to get their third Davis Cup win.
