Italy win Davis Cup as Australia suffer second ‘brutal’ loss in a row

Italy have been crowned Davis Cup champions after dominating Australia in the final and condemning the Aussies to a second loss in a row.

Alexei Popyrin is consoled by Lleyton Hewitt of Australia after defeat in the Davis Cup Final. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for ITF)

Italy have won the Davis Cup for just the second time after handing Australia a second consecutive loss in the final.

Matteo Arnaldi clung on to beat Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 and put Italy 1-0 up on Australia in the Davis Cup final on Sunday.

World No. 4 four Jannik Sinner, who defeated Novak Djokovic in singles and doubles on Saturday, won the trophy for Italy by beating Alex de Minaur 6-3 6-0 in the second singles rubber.

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“I think now I won one of the most important matches in my life, I don’t know what to say right now,” said an emotional Arnaldi.

It was a brutal loss for Popyrin and de Minaur was always going to face a tough task against Sinner, who is in career best form.

Might be the most brutal defeat of Alexei Popyrin’s career. Eight break points in the final set but converted none of them. Matteo Arnaldi puts Italy one win from its second #DavisCup title with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 victory

— Marc McGowan 🗣✍️👨🏻‍💻📰 (@ByMarcMcGowan) November 26, 2023

ITALY 🇮🇹!

Davis Cup champions - first time in 47 years!

Jannik Sinner thrashes Alex De Minaur 6-3, 6-0 to seal it, underlining his brilliance against Djokovic yesterday.

Matteo Arnaldi set him up by beating Alexei Popyrin.

Pain for Australia, losing the final like last year.

— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) November 26, 2023

It’s Italy’s first Davis Cup title since 1976, while 28-time winners Australia last lifted the iconic cup in 2003.

Italy celebrate with the Davis Cup trophy. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)

Italy’s Jannik Sinner was way too good for Alex de Minaur. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for ITF)

Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt opted to maintain Popyrin in the first singles rubber, while Italy’s captain Filippo Volandri returned to Arnaldi from Lorenzo Musetti, despite his last eight defeat in Italy’s 2-1 win over the Netherlands.

Popyrin, whose nerves were jangling in the semi-final singles first set against Finland, started his first service game with a double fault after Arnaldi held to love.

Arnaldi brought up three break points the next time around with a fizzing forehand and took the third of them when Popyrin went long, for a 3-1 lead.

However world number 40 Popyrin reacted immediately by breaking back and holding, both to love, showing he would not be overawed by the occasion.

Arnaldi earned three set points but the Australian rescued them and completed a tough hold for 5-5 with two strong serves.

Alexei Popyrin is consoled by Lleyton Hewitt after losing his match. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images for ITF)

Popyrin wasted two break points as Arnaldi held for 6-5 and then pushed a return into the net to hand the Italian a tense first set.

The Australian was far stronger in the second set against Finland and it proved the case again, as he raced into a double break against Arnaldi, saving a break point as he held for 4-0.

Arnaldi finally got on the board in the fifth game but Popyrin — who produced six aces in the second set to the Italian’s zero — served it out to force a decisive third set.

The erratic Arnaldi saved break points in his first, second and fourth service games without putting pressure on Popyrin’s serve until earning a break point which the 24-year-old saved, holding for 4-4.

Popyrin was on top but could not make it count to get the breakthrough, with Arnaldi saving yet another break point on his way to a 5-4 lead.

Despite being outplayed for the best part of the third set Arnaldi converted his first set point to put Italy ahead in the tie with a powerful forehand.