Davis Cup Final recaps: Jannik Sinner pushes Italy past Australia and into final

Alex de Minaur did not play poorly. He moved extremely well for a player who has been dealing with a hip injury for several months, and he served well, and he did not make life easy for Jannik Sinner in their match in the Italy versus Australia Davis Cup semifinal tie. The Aussie would have beaten many players. No one beats Sinner now.

The Italian won in straight sets, getting a late break in the second set to get the victory 6-3 6-4. Sinner has not lost a set since September. At the ATP Finals in November, Sinner made the rest of the top-ranked players look like they were playing at an academy and he was their coach. Sinner simply does not beat himself, and that was a key against de Minaur.

The Australian is a difficult match for anyone when he is healthy. He doesn't have a knock-out shot or an overwhelming serve, but he can chase down seemingly everything and keep pushing opponents to the limits of their abilities and patience. Sinner had to remain calm as de Minaur was not going to give in, but in the end, elite talent defeats good talent, and the Italian won.

Jannik Sinner defeats Alex de Minaur to push Italy past Australia at the 2024 Davis Cup

Sinner now has less than a day to rest, along with the rest of his Italian team, as Italy will play the feisty Netherlands team in the 2024 Davis Cup Final final. Italy and Sinner won the event last year with Sinner closing the tournament out. That could easily happen again on Sunday. With Sinner, Italy knows it has a cheat code and that should make them feel confident.

Still, few expected the Dutch to beat Spain in the first Davis Cup Final tie, and they did so, in part, by beating (and retiring) Rafael Nadal. They were the better team in the deciding doubles match and the same could hold true in the final if the Netherlands can win the singles match that doesn't have Jannik Sinner in it.

This would be their path to victory because the Dutch do not have a player even as good as Alex de Minaur. Likely, Sinner will play Tallon Griekspoor. Griekspoor has never defeated Sinner in five tries, but he at least has won a set in two matches and forced a set tie-break in two other matches. Griekspoor won't lack confidence should he face Sinner, but Sinner and Italy will probably win their second straight Davis Cup.

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