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Fabio Fognini celebrates his victory.
The victory set up a semi-final clash on Saturday against Canada, who also prevailed in the doubles tie-breaker in the quarter-finals against Germany, winning 2-1.
- France Press agency Malaga
- Last updated: November 25, 2022, at 11:24 IST
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Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli cruised to victory in the doubles tie-breaker as Italy defeated the United States 2-1 in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Malaga on Thursday.
The victory set up a semi-final clash on Saturday against Canada, who also prevailed in the doubles tie-breaker in the quarter-finals against Germany, winning 2-1.
“I’m really happy, I’m here with my ‘brother.’ We played really well,” Fognini said, after the pair beat Jack Sock and Tommy Ball 6-4, 6-4.
Italy, who lost two of their best players, world No. 15 Yannick Sinner and No. 16 Matteo Berrettini, eliminated an American team led by ninth seed Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe, who are in 20th.
Lorenzo Sonego, the 45th seed, opened the tie from a set down to beat Tiafoe 6-3, 7-6 (9/7).
Fritz equalized as he survived a tough first set to defeat Lorenzo Musetti 7-6 (8/10), 6-3.
Fognini and Bolelli, the 2015 Australian Open champions, broke through the ninth game of the first set and the seventh game of the second set to win it.
“I am really proud of my team and this crowd,” said Captain Filippo Volandri.
“It’s like we’re in Italy! All the players did an incredible job. Even Matteo, who couldn’t play because of an injury, is here and Yannick is supporting from home.”
Captain USA Mardy Fish didn’t enjoy Thanksgiving.
“There is no doubt that it was a difficult day.” He said. “There is no doubt that they were the better team today.”
“Their couple, they played great. They are a great team.”
On Saturday, Italy, whose only Davis Cup title came back in 1976, will face 2019 runners-up Canada.
Jan-Lennard Struff, ranked 152nd in the world, gave Germany the lead in the quarter-finals with a stunning 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2) victory over 18th seed Denis Shapovalov.
Struff has now beaten the Canadian six times in nine meetings and survived Thursday’s barrage of 18 aces from a left hand.
Malaga’s highest-ranked man, Felix Auger-Aliassime, tied for sixth in the world, in the quarter-finals with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4 victory over Germany’s 65th-ranked Oscar Otte.
Auger-Aliassime unleashed 15 aces and 21 game winners, converting the only break of the match in the seventh game of the second set.
“These are some of the weeks I look forward to during the year, to get into a group of players and play together,” said Auger Aliassime.
Shapovalov and Vasek Pospisil then teamed up to defeat Kevin Krawietz and Tim Peitz 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 to book a place in the semi-finals for the fourth time.
On Friday, twice defending champion Croatia will meet Australia, who have won the Davis Cup on 28 occasions, in the first semi-final.
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