The Davis Cup may not be what it once was, but at times, flashes of its past glory resurface. If many players and observers regularly assert that the change in format has emptied the essence of the historic nations competition, renowned for its frenzied atmospheres and Dantesque scenarios, the meeting between the Italian Flavio Cobolli and the Belgian Zizou Bergs this Friday in Bologna did honor to the tradition of the event.
Opposed in the semi-final between Italy and Belgium, the two men engaged in an incredible battle lasting more than three hours (3h03). The Transalpine won in three sets (6-3, 6-7 [5]7-6 [15]) but had to do it again seven times, like the number of match points in his favor, to validate his country’s place in the final.
“I don’t remember a more moving moment”
But Cobolli also showed exceptional composure to also dismiss seven match points during an unbearable tie-break, 25 minutes long, ultimately winning 17 points to 15! Hysterical after his success, the 22nd player in the world let his joy explode at the same time as the Italian supporters present in the SuperTennis Arena in Bologna. After shaking hands with his rival, he simply ripped off his match polo shirt, recalling Novak Djokovic’s wildest celebrations.
Totally dejected after missing the opportunity to take Belgium to a decisive double, Bergs collapsed in tears on his bench before being comforted for many minutes by his opponent of the day.
“I don’t remember a more moving moment than this,” analyzed the magnificent loser at a press conference after the game. “Tonight was amazing, at times I was looking at Steve (Darcis, the Belgian captain) and we were laughing at everything that was happening, at all these crazy points we played, the atmosphere was impressive,” he conceded.
A historic tie-break
This will surely not console him, but the 43rd player in the world, executioner of Arthur Rinderknech and the French in the quarter-finals, had just played the longest tie-break of the year 2025 among men on the main circuit in terms of points, dethroning the 15-13 between the Bosnian Damir Dzumhur and the Ecuadorian Andres Andrade, on September 13, according to a statistic from of the X account specialized in Games, Sets & Maths.
The decisive game between Cobolli and Bergs even ranks sixth among the longest tie-breaks in the history of the Davis Cup, a 125-year-old competition. Totally crazy!
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