Davis Cup: Italy hint at including Barrettini for doubles rubber
Italy have named their top-ranked player Marco Cecchinato and Simone Bolelli for the doubles tie against Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan. But non-playing skipper Barazzutti said at the press conference that they might rejig the formation. "We still have time to discuss about that. We can change the doubles combination one hour before the match. We still have time to change the team," he said.
Praising Barrettini who hit six aces against Prajnesh and converted three break points, Barazzutti said the 22-year-old played like a veteran. "Matteo played very, very well. He played like a veteran, like he played many Davis Cup matches. This was a first time for me. He really made a great match."
Barrettini said his Swiss Open triumph last year in Gstaad over second seed Roberto Bautista Agut changed his career. He also won the doubles title in the St Petersburg Open with their top-ranked Fabio Fognini who is missing out on action in the ongoing Qualifiers.
"A lot of things have changed (since the Swiss Open win). Things are starting to fall place. I think I did a great week there. I realised I could play at that level. After that I won doubles with Fabio. I like to play tennis. It's a dream coming true." Berrettini added the Indian pair of Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan would pose a tough test in the doubles tie on Saturday.
"They are always a very good team in doubles. We know it will be tough. For them it's a very important point. They will play their best tennis possible. But we are up to the challenge. We are a good team too. We will try hard to win the match," he said about Saturday's first rubber. The youngster was at his aggressive best against the Indian top-ranked Prajnesh who is on a career high 102.
"Our captain decided first to play aggressive in serve, to play as much push towards the net. i think i did all these things really well," he said about the ploy. He heaped praise on Andreas Seppi who won the opening rubber, saying it helped take the pressure off him.
"There was a bit of pressure on me, it was my first match in the Davis Cup. But Andreas played a great match and I felt less pressure," he added.
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- READ MORE ON:
- Andreas Seppi
- Prajnesh Gunneswaran
- Ramkumar Ramanathan
- Rafael Nadal
- Marco Cecchinato
- Air Italy
- Regions of Italy
- Little Italy
- Crazy Youngsters
- Nadur Youngsters F.C.
- Canary Islands
- Fabio Fognini
- Filip Krajinović
- Elina Svitolina
- Rohan Bopanna
- Corrado Barazzutti
- Matteo Barrettini
- team
- Italy
- youngster
ALSO READ
US Delegation to Embark on Trade Mission to India to Discover Promising Agribusiness Opportunities
NEWSMAKER-He once sold tea, now India's Modi seeks his own 'tryst with destiny'
ADB forecasts robust investment and consumer demand to boost India's GDP growth to 7% in FY25
INSIGHT-India's Gandhi dynasty, trailing Modi, battles for political survival
India's Explosive Growth over the Past Decade, According to Silicon Valley Entrepreneur