Sinner guides Italy to back-to-back Davis Cup triumphs

Jannik Sinner capped his outstanding year by helping Italy retain the Davis Cup, beating Tallon Griekspoor to ensure Italy downed the Netherlands 2-0 in Sunday's final.

World number one Sinner overcame Griekspoor 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 after Matteo Berrettini had registered a 6-4 6-2 win over Botic van de Zandschulp in the opener.

Sinner saved the only two break points of the first set as Griekspoor put up a fight, but the Italian put on a show in the tie-break to inch ahead.

Griekspoor hit back after giving up an early break in the second set, but Sinner immediately responded with two further breaks, with the Dutchman double-faulting for the first then wildly miscuing with a backhand for the second.

Sinner was untroubled from then on, sealing a triumphant end to a spectacular season.

The Italian has only dropped one set throughout that streak, finishing a year that saw him win the Australian Open, US Open and ATP Finals with a 73-6 singles record.

0 - Jannik Sinner is the second player in the Open Era to finish a calendar year with at least one set won in each of his seasonal matches after Roger Federer in 2005. Unbelievable.#DavisCup | @DavisCup @federtennis @janniksin #Sinner pic.twitter.com/08lbSVEXhD
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) November 24, 2024

Data Debrief: Sensational Sinner leads the way

This has been a truly remarkable year for Sinner, who has become the first man in the Open Era to win at least one set in every match throughout a season since Roger Federer in 2005.

His victory ensured Italy became the first team to retain the Davis Cup since the Czech Republic triumphed in 2012 and 2013.

Italy also captured the Billie Jean King Cup earlier this week, and they are just the third nation to claim both trophies in the same season in the last 30 years, after the Czech Republic in 2012 and Russia in 2021.