The pride and tears of Filippo Volandri , the captain of Italtennis who won the Davis Cup again 47 years later , the determination of Jannik Sinner , the blue arm and soul. And then the joy of the various Arnaldi, Musetti, Sonego and also that of Matteo Berrettini , injured but in Malaga to join the group and cheer on Italy.
Smiles and great emotion for the protagonists of the Italian feat who also brought the ninety-year-old Nicola Pietrangeli to celebrate on the podium, captain of the first Italian success in Davis and symbol of Italian tennis in the world, the Italian with the best ranking ever in the history of men's tennis and above all icon of the Davis Cup.
Also applauding Sinner and his companions is the minister for sport and youth, Andrea Abodi . And compliments immediately rained down from Italy, such as those from Coni number one Giovanni Malagò ("Italian tennis is once again dominating") and invitations to Palazzo Chigi arrived for Sinner and his companions from Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni , who also telephoned the president of federtennis Angelo Binaghi, and by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale .
Meanwhile, the emotion of the blue group can be felt from Malaga.
«I'm proud of these guys , I'm happy with what we've done. Thanks to everyone who has supported us over the last two years. We are a united group, this is what we want. This is a project that started a long time ago, amid billions of difficulties, but the guys have always been close to me, I have always had their support. And since Matteo (Berrettini ed.) arrived here we have become even more of a family", the words of an emotional Volandri .
«This victory is particular and special . We knew we had a great group, we managed to put the pieces together. Berrettini had a difficult season, but he came here and supported us. It's important to be a team player, we're all happy to raise this special cup", commented Sinner before the awards ceremony and then thanked the entire country. « Thanks to all the Italians who believed in us , even when things went wrong - he says - From Turin I brought a lot of energy and we formed a team. In Bologna we suffered, but we always remained there. Now we triumph."
Sinner underlines the unity of the group: « We are a united team, each of us can be happy - he adds -. We wanted Matteo (Berrettini ed.) to come here to support us, we can only laugh. There is a lot of emotion, we heard from all the Italians who came here to Malaga, who watched in Italy. We knew it was big, we had the right mentality. The most important thing was to work as a team, we are all happy to lift this very special Cup. Thanks to all Italians, to the public who believed in us even when things went badly. Yesterday we were one point away from being out and today we lift the Cup."
All the members of the team speak, all proud and understandably happy. «Today Jannik and Matteo were extraordinary» says Musetti, voiceless and visibly emotional . «It's the greatest emotion of my career . I haven't played these days but I'm happy to be part of this team" echoes Bolelli, while Rino Gaetano's "The sky is always bluer" continues to flow from the speakers.
«It's crazy, we all support each other in this group and I think you've seen it » explains Arnaldi. «Thanks to all of them - comments Sonego -. It's an emotional moment for me, for this team." Adriano Panatta, who at 47 years old raised the salad bowl for the first time and is now a TV commentator for Rai, also rejoices and jokes. "After the first match I was calm and confident, Sinner couldn't lose. It was a beautiful victory, at the moment I believe that Italy is clearly the strongest. If we think that we are missing a player like Berrettini, who especially on these pitches he knows how to do it, then we would be unbeatable", he comments. "I had a thought - Panatta then jokes again -, so at least now they will call. Jannik played a crazy match against Djokovic, at the moment he is the number one beyond of the rankings, which don't matter: now we see that this boy is there, and in my opinion he will remain there for a long time."
(Unioneonline/vl)
