The Azzurri will take the field on Wednesday against Austria. The captain: “This year the draw is fair, but this tournament is a history in itself. We are strong”
It’s Italy that doesn’t give up. The one who also knows how to suffer when necessary. Through gritted teeth. And with my heart in my mouth. “This is not a normal tournament. It is a competition full of surprises and we don’t have to look at the ranking.” The Azzurri’s Davis Cup, the tennis world cup, begins here (according to the backdrops in the press room), a beautiful, tough, impervious competition. Italy will start their tournament against Austria on Wednesday. Captain Volandri is sure: “We are not playing for the third, but for the Davis of 2025. We are a strong team. Much respect for Austria, but we are ready”. Without the power of Jannik Sinner and the elegance of Lorenzo Musetti, Italtennis relies on those who do not lose heart. From Berrettini to Sonego. And then Cobolli, Bolelli and Vavassori. More responsibility without Sinner? Berrettini, hat on his head, smiles: “Responsibility is always relative, when one is called up and dreams of playing these matches you always create the chance to be ready. When you enter the field with the national team shirt you feel the responsibility to give everything. You win and lose together. We know it will be very tough. But I have no different role from the others. We are united and we are ready.”
squad
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Bologna in the evening, with the pavilions of the Fair which from today will become an arena. Or rather, the Supertennis Arena. A sort of ten thousand seat amusement park. With the fields, the stands, the neon lights. A show. And Italy will try to win it for the third time. Volandri, however, raises his voice. He is calm, calm, now tested as captain of this blue team. “We know that the Davis Cup is not a normal tournament. It’s completely different. We know that most of the time the ranking doesn’t matter, so it doesn’t surprise me. I think this year the draw is quite fair. So yes, we will fight for them and that’s it. We’ll see.” Sinner’s ghost isn’t there, but somehow you can feel it. They ask Cobolli if he is the leader. The other blue also smiles and searches for the right words: “We try to help each other at every moment of the day. So, my team, all of us are in this team. And we can’t wait to play the first match.”
leadership
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You need charisma, leadership, experience. Berrettini is the leader: “I don’t know if I am, but I really want to stay here. I understand the choices of Musetti and Sinner. We won and lost together, it won’t be the last chance”. But, says Berrettini, “we are truly a very strong national team”. And with the blue shirt on “I feel good”. Berrettini is the man who began Italy’s long march: “It’s nice. But it’s also right to remember Fognini, who was in the top ten and led Davis forward for years. I feel like an important piece of Italian tennis.” And he adds: “The movement is healthy. There are many kids and they stimulate us together.” The other evening the audience data spoke of tennis being superior to Italian football. “Sinner and Alcaraz are now moving a lot. Not only in Italy, but in the world. It was an important event, but a few years ago it would have been unthinkable. Thanks to Jannik number one. Or rather, two. But also thanks to us, there is a lot of tennis to watch. People have become passionate about our stories”. And he adds: “We are there watching Alcaraz and Sinner. And maybe beating them when the need arises.”
friendship
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There is an emotional moment. It’s the one between Berrettini and Cobolli, who grew up in tennis clubs, friends since childhood. “We have to look back every now and then. Everyone starts out like children trying to catch the ball. And then suddenly you find yourself on the Wimbledon courts.” Berrettini reflects, weighs his words. “Every now and then, when I look back at old things, I think back to the moments. With Flavio we were young, there wasn’t the dream of Davis, there was just the desire to have fun and that’s it. It’s wonderful to think of having done this journey together. We have so many stories in common and intertwined. It’s nice to think of fighting for something so big.” Now that football is like this, it’s better to have chosen tennis. Cobolli doesn’t think about it too much: “Football was absolutely not for me.” And again: “Matteo and I have known each other for a long time. For me it is a point of reference in life and on the tennis court. Being here is a dream. Now we are in Bologna, and we are all ready for this great challenge”. In case of victory, Italy will play (Friday) the semi-final against the winner of France-Belgium.
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