Italy advanced to the Davis Cup Final 8 on Sunday when singles wins from Matteo Arnaldi and Lorenzo Sonego gave their country an unassailable 2-0 lead against already-eliminated Sweden.
Italy needed just one win from its three ties against Sweden in Bologna to qualify from Group A and Arnaldi quickly delivered.
The 22-year-old, who reached the fourth round at the US Open, defeated Sweden’s Leo Borg 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 22 minutes to secure his country a place in the Davis Cup knockout rounds in Malaga this November.
Sonego then overcame Elias Ymer 6-4, 6-4 to move Italy 2-0 ahead. The result means the former champion will join Group A winners Canada in the next round. Italy has now advanced to the Davis Cup quarter-finals five times since 2016. Last year it reached the semi-finals, losing to eventual champion Canada.
Spain Defeats South Korea
Already-eliminated Spain ended its Group C campaign on a high with victory against South Korea.
The former champion lost its first two ties against group winners Czech Republic and second-placed Serbia and was therefore unable to qualify for the Final 8 despite the result against South Korea on Sunday in Valencia.
They finished third in Group C, though, with Bernabe Zapata Miralles beating Hong Seongchan 6-4, 7-5, before Alejandro Davidovich Fokina downed Soonwoo Kwon 6-4, 6-4.
South Korea finished fourth in Group C.
© Copyright 1994 - 2024 ATP Tour, Inc. All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or by any means (including photocopying, recording or storing it in any medium by electronic means), without the written permission of ATP Tour, Inc.. Terms & Conditions | Privacy | Modern Slavery Statement | Feedback | Cookies
