Italy's Matteo Berrettini celebrates after winning a Davis Cup semifinal singles tennis match between Italy and Belgium against Belgium's Raphael Collignon in Bologna, Italy, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Italy's Matteo Berrettini reacts after winning a point to Belgium's Raphael Collignon during a Davis Cup semifinal singles tennis match between Italy and Belgium, in Bologna, Italy, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Belgium's Raphael Collignon returns a ball to Italy's Matteo Berrettini during a Davis Cup semifinal singles tennis match between Italy and Belgium, in Bologna, Italy, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)1 / 3Italy Davis Cup Tennis
Italy's Matteo Berrettini celebrates after winning a Davis Cup semifinal singles tennis match between Italy and Belgium against Belgium's Raphael Collignon in Bologna, Italy, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)1 / 3Italy Davis Cup Tennis
Italy's Matteo Berrettini celebrates after winning a Davis Cup semifinal singles tennis match between Italy and Belgium against Belgium's Raphael Collignon in Bologna, Italy, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)2 / 3Italy Davis Cup Tennis
Italy's Matteo Berrettini reacts after winning a point to Belgium's Raphael Collignon during a Davis Cup semifinal singles tennis match between Italy and Belgium, in Bologna, Italy, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)3 / 3Italy Davis Cup Tennis
Belgium's Raphael Collignon returns a ball to Italy's Matteo Berrettini during a Davis Cup semifinal singles tennis match between Italy and Belgium, in Bologna, Italy, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)Associated PressFri, November 21, 2025 at 5:12 PM UTC·1 min readBOLOGNA, Italy (AP) — Matteo Berrettini beat Raphael Collignon 6-3, 6-4 to give two-time defending champion Italy the lead against Belgium in their Davis Cup semifinal on Friday.
The No. 56-ranked Berrettini, a 2021 Wimbledon runner-up with 10 singles titles on the tour, clinched the first set on serve against No. 86 Collignon.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementCollignon dropped his opening serve of the second set but he broke back for 2-2. Berrettini withstood aggressive shot-making to break for 4-3 and won on his first match point with a love hold.
Later Friday, No. 22 Flavio Cobolli faced No. 43 Zizou Bergs in the second singles in the Italian city of Bologna. Neither Belgian has won a singles title on the men's tour.
Italy or Belgium meets the winner of Saturday's semifinal between Germany and Spain.
No Sinner or Alcaraz
Italy was without No. 2-ranked Jannik Sinner. The four-time Grand Slam champion, who led Italy to the titles in 2023 and 2024, opted to sit out. He retained the ATP Finals title on Sunday, beating No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
The Davis Cup Final 8 is the sixth edition of the revamped event that has the champion decided at a neutral site. ___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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