Australia has suffered heartbreak for the second consecutive Davis Cup final after being thrashed by Italy in Malaga on Sunday (Monday AEDT).
In an eerily similar defeat to the final against Canada 12 months ago, Australia failed to win a match as Italian superstar Jannik Sinner clinically closed out the tie 2-0.
Italy sprung a surprise in the opening singles tie with Matteo Arnaldi selected ahead of experienced compatriots Lorenzo Musetti and Lorenzo Sonego.
MORE: Davis Cup 2023: Scores and results from the finals in Malaga as Italy beat Australia
However, it looked a strong decision initially as Arnaldi took the first set 7-5 against Alexei Popyrin.
But Popyrin struck back in the second set, racing out to a 4-0 lead before closing it out 6-2.
Momentum was with the Australian but he failed to take advantage of three break point chances across the third set at 3-3 and 4-4, before Arnaldi broke to win the match in the 10th game 6-4.
It was then up to Alex de Minaur to face the in-form Sinner, who dispatched world no.1 Novak Djokovic in the Davis Cup semi-finals.
But De Minaur was no match for 22-year-old world no.4, who battered the Australian 6-3 6-0 in only one hour, 22 minutes, meaning the doubles leg was not required.
The triumph was Italy's second in their history after lifting the Davis Cup in 1976.
Davis Cup 2023 results
Final Eight
| Date/Time (local — CET) | Match/Result |
| Tues Nov 21, 4:00pm | Canada 1-2 Finland |
| Wed Nov 22, 4:00pm | Czechia 1-2 Australia |
| Thu Nov 23, 10:00am | Italy 2-1 Netherlands |
| Thu Nov 23, 4:00pm | Serbia 2-0 Great Britain |
Canada 1-2 Finland — Tues, Nov 21
- Milos Raonic (CAN) def. Patrick Kaukovalta (FIN) 6-3 7-5
- Otto Virtanen (FIN) def. Gabriel Diallo (CAN) 6-4 7-5
- Virtanen/Heliovaara (FIN) def. Pospisil/Galarneau (CAN) 7-5 6-3
Czechia 1-2 Australia — Wed, Nov 22
- Tomas Machac (CZE) def. Jordan Thompson (AUS) 6-4 7-5
- Alex de Minaur (AUS) def. Jiri Lehecka (CZE) 4-6 7-6(2) 7-5
- Ebden/Purcell (AUS) def. Lehecka/Pavlasek (CZE) 6-4 7-5
Italy 2-1 Netherlands — Thu, Nov 23
- Botic Van de Zandschulp (NET) def. Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) 6-7 6-3 7-6
- Jannik Sinner (ITA) def. Tallon Griekspoor (NET) 7-6 6-1
- Sinner/Sonego (ITA) def. Griekspoor/Koolhof (NET) 6-4 7-5
Serbia 2-0 Great Britain — Thu, Nov 23
- Miomir Kecmanović (SRB) def. Jack Draper (GBR) 7-6(2) 7-6(6)
- Novak Djokovic (SRB) def. Cameron Norrie (GBR) 7-6 6-1
Semi Finals
| Date/Time (local — CET) | Match/Result |
|---|---|
| Fri Nov 24, 4:00pm | Finland 0-2 Australia |
| Sat Nov 25, 12:00pm | Italy 2-1 Serbia |
Finland vs. Australia — Fri, Nov 24
- Alexei Popyrin (AUS) def. Otto Virtanen (FIN) 7-6(5) 6-2
- Alex de Minaur (AUS) def. Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 6-4 6-3
Italy vs. Serbia — Sat, Nov 25
- Miomir Kecmanovic (SRB) def. Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) 6-7(5) 6-2 6-1
- Jannik Sinner (ITA) def. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 6-2 2-6 7-5
- Jannik Sinner/Lorenzo Sonego (ITA) def. Novak Djokovic/Miomir Kecmanovic 6-3 6-4
Final
| Date/Time (local — CET) | Match/Result |
|---|---|
| Sun Nov 26, 4:00pm | Australia 0-2 Italy |
Italy vs. Australia — Sun, Nov 26
- Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) def. Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 7-5 2-6 6-4
- Jannik Sinner (ITA) def. Alex de Minaur (AUS) 6-3 6-0
