Italy's Matteo Berrettini comfortably beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4 6-2 in the first singles clash of the Davis Cup final against the Netherlands on Sunday to hand the holders a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three tie.

Italy defended the Davis Cup Finals trophy in Malaga! Led by world no. 1 Jannik Sinner, the Italians were the favorites to lift another Davis Cup trophy. They passed three obstacles in Malaga and celebrated a massive success after ousting the Netherlands 2-0 in the title clash.

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini won their singles matches to lift defending champion Italy past Australia 2-0 and back into the Davis Cup final.

Matteo Berrettini showed his class with a heartfelt gesture after putting Italy ahead in Sunday's Davis Cup final. The world No. 35 beat Botic van de Zandschulp to give his nation the lead over the Netherlands.

Italy went nearly a quarter-century without winning the Davis Cup. Then along came Jannik Sinner, and now the country is celebrating its second consecutive title. The No. 1-ranked Sinner clinched the championship in the annual team event and capped his breakthrough season by beating Tallon Griekspoor 7-6 (2),

Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini put defending champions Italy into the Davis Cup final with a 2-0 victory over Australia.

Matteo Berrettini has played his role to perfection taking the first match of the Davis Cup Finals 6-4, 6-2 against Netherlands' Botic van de Zandschulp to give Italy a 1-0 lead in the tie with a

MALAGA, Spain (AP) — Matteo Berrettini justified his promotion to Italy's singles lineup by putting aside a collapse at the end of the first set and coming back to beat Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5 Saturday, moving the defending Davis Cup champion to the verge of returning to the final.

Italy had won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1976 last year, and will look to defend their crown against the Netherlands on Sunday

MALAGA, Spain (Reuters) -Defending champions Italy moved into the Davis Cup final after a 2-0 win over Australia on Saturday as Jannik Sinner defeated Alex de Minaur in straight sets to follow up Matteo Berrettini's victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis.