Overview
- Matteo Berrettini beat Raphael Collignon to give Italy a 1-0 lead over Belgium in the Davis Cup semifinal in Bologna, with Flavio Cobolli set to face Zizou Bergs next and Bolelli/Vavassori ready if a deciding doubles is needed.
- The Zurich draw set Italy’s one‑leg World Cup playoff semifinal at home to Northern Ireland on 26 March, with Bergamo favored, and an away final on 31 March against Wales or Bosnia if the Azzurri advance.
- Rino Gattuso labeled Northern Ireland within reach but physically demanding and said he has called Federico Chiesa for every camp, framing any availability issue as the player’s decision.
- Gattuso requested advancing the Serie A round before 26 March and a brief national‑team camp; Lega Serie A president Ezio Simonelli and Inter’s Giuseppe Marotta expressed openness, but broadcaster commitments and European fixtures complicate shifts.
- Italy reached the Davis Cup semifinal by eliminating Austria with singles wins by Berrettini and Cobolli and is pursuing a third straight final without Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti.