Italy closes already after the singles (2-0) the match against Croatia valid for Group A of the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals on the fast indoor stadium of the Unipol Arena in Bologna until Sunday.
In the first singles, the one between the number two of their respective teams, Lorenzo Musetti beat Borna Gojo 64 62, in an hour and 24 minutes.
So in the challenge between the two numbers one Matteo Berrettini overcame Borna Coric by 67 (4) 62 61, in two hours and twenty minutes.
Italy also wins the double point and makes a full booty with Croatia.
The challenge of the first day of the Davis Cup ends 3-0 with Italtennis who, after having guaranteed success with the singles won by Musetti and Berrettini, also advances with the tandem Simone Bolelli / Fabio Fognini who won 3-6 7-5 7-6 (3),
after almost two and a half hours of play, on the fearsome Croatian team Nikola Mektic / Ante Pavic.
Tomorrow day of rest for the Azzurri: Friday back on the pitch for the match against Argentina, Sunday the last match of the group against Sweden.
An unprecedented challenge among the numbers one of their respective teams, with the 26-year-old from Rome, returning to the national team after three years.
Coric's start was better, also because Berrettini in the second game with three free tickets in a row granted two break points and then, after saving the first with a smash, he delivered the break by kicking the forehand into the net.
Lost the first set at the tie break, Berrettini immediately makes up for it with two flawless sets that give Coric no escape with Italtennis who brings home the first match.
"In Davis it is not important to play well, it counts to win. It was important to bring the point home and I succeeded - said Berrettini at the end of the match he led Italy to win the match at 2-0 - After the first set I accustomed to playing conditions,
very different from those where I had played until last week.
I don't have all this experience in Davis: as the game went on I felt better and better and gained confidence. "
In the first match Musetti faced the 24-year-old from Split, a revelation at the Finals in Turin last year - when from n.276 ATP he "knocked out" Popyrin (n.61), Sonego (n.27) and Lajovic (n .33): with his devastating serve Gojo was not a comfortable opponent to face on the fast indoor but Lorenzo did not give him a chance.
There was no precedent between the two.
After a few games of study Lorenzo broke the ice and, thanks also to a bit of luck, he hit the break in the fifth game and then went almost on velvet.
Excellent performance in Musetti's service: 3 aces against a single double fault, 70% of the first in the field with 84% of the points won but also 64% of the points won with the second.
And no break points allowed.
On the scoresheet 20 winners against 7 free (21 against 22 Gojo's balance).
"
I got off to a very good start even though he served really strong - commented Musetti at the end of the match that brought Italy 1-0 ahead of Croatia - The key to the game was to defuse that deadly weapon of his.
Then the type of pitch, not very fast, allowed me to respond in the best possible way and the enthusiasm of the public, fantastic from start to finish, transformed this stadium into an arena "
