If any national team benefited from the changes to the Davis Cup format, then it is the Italian national team, which at the end of this season won the title for the third time. This hasnt happened in the Davis Cup for more than 50 years, when American players last achieved it by winning five consecutive titles.
After winning twice in Spain, they now took the title at home, playing without the biggest star Jannik Sinner and and Lorenzo Musetti, their top player. The victory against Spain showed the depth of talent on this national team, which has a strong roster despite missing their biggest stars.
A familiar face to older tennis fans and a man who has done great things in the sport, Adriano Panatta, commented on Italy's success.
The 75-year-old believes that Italy's victory is even more significant given that they were playing without their biggest stars, Sinner and Musetti.
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The victory was extraordinary for these guys, and I want to congratulate them so much because they lifted this trophy without [Jannik] Sinner and [Lorenzo] Musetti, our two strongest tennis players, he said.
[Flavio] Cobolli and [Matteo] Berrettini have shown that they are part of a real group, and their successes have confirmed something we already knew: Italy has a team that has nothing to envy of any other.
Right now, we are simply the best.- Adriano Panatta said, as quoted by The Tennis Gazette.
The mindset of the Italians
In his opinion, the team showed courage and commitment from the first match to the last. The Italians have truly shown that they are always hungry for success, and that they never lose faith, even when many things are against them.
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Whether the next edition will offer equally interesting moments, and whether we will witness another Italian dominance, remains to be seen.
