Hosts Italy moved within reach of a third consecutive Davis Cup crown after Flavio Cobolli saved seven match points in a breathtaking victory over Belgium’s Zizou Bergs, securing a 2–0 win in Friday’s semi-final.

Backed by a roaring crowd inside the SuperTennis Arena, the 23-year-old battled to a dramatic 6–3, 6–7(5), 7–6(15) triumph, with the final-set tiebreak instantly entering the conversation as one of the greatest in the competition’s storied history.

Both players delivered sensational tennis during a series of gruelling, high-stakes rallies in the breaker. Bergs, bolstered by his powerful serve, repeatedly looked poised to force a deciding doubles match. But Cobolli, who squandered his first six match points, held his nerve and finally closed out the contest with an unreturnable serve, igniting wild celebrations from the home faithful.

“In my five years as captain, I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Italy captain Filippo Volandri. “This match was incredible—5% tactics, 95% heart.”

Earlier in the day, Matteo Berrettini had given Italy the lead with a commanding 6–3, 6–4 win over Raphael Collignon, extending his personal singles winning streak in the competition to ten matches.

Italy will chase a historic three-peat in Sunday’s final, where they will face either Germany or Spain. A victory would make them the first nation to win three straight titles since the abolition of the Challenge Round after the 1971 edition.

Cobolli, part of Italy’s 2023 championship squad, has stepped into the No. 1 role in the absence of world No. 2 Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti—and has responded superbly. After sweeping Filip Misolic in Wednesday’s quarter-final, he was pushed to the brink by the 43rd-ranked Bergs, who recovered well from a sluggish start to threaten a major upset.

“It’s hard to put this match into words,” Cobolli said. “I played for my team, for my family—this is one of the best days of my life.”

Italy, currently riding a 12-tie winning streak, are the first nation since Australia in 2001 to reach three straight Davis Cup finals.