Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini saved alive Italy’s hopes of a primary Davis Cup title since 1976 on Thursday in Malaga, the place the doubles duo edged Tommy Paul and Jack Sock 6-4, 6-4 to clinch a hard-fought quarter-final win in opposition to the USA.
Bolleli and Fognini, who’ve lifted 5 tour-level titles collectively, together with two this season, clinched the one break of serve in every set within the decisive doubles match to present Italy a 2-1 victory in opposition to the 32-time champions.
“I’m actually comfortable, I’m right here with my ‘brother’ and we performed rather well,” Fognini informed daviscup.com after serving to Italy attain the semi-finals of the group occasion for the primary time since 2014.
“I’m comfortable for me, for Fabio, for the group,” added Bolelli. “It was actually robust, however it’s nice to be by to the semi-finals.”
Bolelli and Fognini’s doubles heroics got here after the 2 groups had cut up an engrossing pair of singles rubbers in Spain. Lorenzo Sonego downed Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 7-6(7) to present Italy the early benefit, whereas there was additionally a nerve-wracking tie-break within the second match between Lorenzo Musetti and Taylor Fritz. The American saved two set factors within the first set earlier than wrapping a 7-6(8), 6-3 win to degree the tie, however Fritz’s win was in the end in useless as Bolelli and Fognini held agency within the doubles.
Italy’s semi-final opponent on Saturday might be Canada after Felix Auger-Aliassime led his nation to a comeback win in opposition to Germany in Thursday’s night quarter-final motion.
After Jan-Lennard Struff had edged Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(2) within the opening singles rubber, Auger-Aliassime’s 7-6(1), 6-4 triumph in opposition to Oscar Otte left the tie to be determined by the doubles. Regardless of Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz racing to the opening set, Vasek Pospisil and Shapovalov discovered their vary on return to interrupt their opponents’ serve thrice en path to a formidable 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win to the delight of the vocal Canadian supporters within the crowd.
“Enormous credit score to Felix, to start with, for bringing the group on the board,” mentioned Shapovalov after he and Pospisil had secured Canada’s second semi-final in 4 years. “He saved us on the market as we speak… It’s at all times a pleasure to play with Vasek. It’s at all times superior to share the courtroom with him and we convey some firepower.”
“We bought a little bit of momentum and having the gang assist helps us to hold the momentum by to the top,” mentioned Pospisil. “It’s a problem to be sharp on the market, however given the circumstances I assumed we performed rather well.”
What’s the format for the 2022 Davis Cup Finals?
The group stage of the 2022 Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals occurred throughout 4 cities — Bologna, Glasgow, Hamburg and Valencia — from 13-18 September. Sixteen nations competed in 4 round-robin teams of 4 groups. The highest two groups in every group superior to the knock-out stage. The knock-out stage is happening in Malaga this week, with the ultimate on Sunday.
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