Davis Cup Finals 2023 in Malaga: Jannik Sinner seals Italy's first triumph since 1976 as Australia come up short again

Italy ended a 47-year drought as they defeated Australia 2-0 in the final of the Davis Cup in Malaga on Sunday (26 November).

Jannik Sinner, so instrumental to his nation's campaign in Spain, defeated Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-0 to earn the Azzurri a second men's team tennis world crown.

Unlike in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, where Sinner had to win his singles match to keep Italy's hopes alive, the world number four took the court with his team in front thanks to Matteo Arnaldi's three-set victory over Alexei Popyrin.

De Minaur looked pumped from the off, but even his famed speed around the court was no match for Sinner's power from the baseline.

Sinner, who defeated Novak Djokovic in Saturday's semi-final, broke for an early 2-1 lead. And he broke again to take the opening set.

Last weekend's ATP Tour Finals runner-up was in sublime form after the restart, fairly raced into a 5-0 lead.

De Minaur saved two championship points but then sent a backhand wide to make it third time lucky for Sinner, much to the delight of the large Italian travelling support.

It was disappointment once again for Australia and their captain Lleyton Hewitt who went down to Canada in the final 12 months ago.

Matteo Arnaldi puts Italy on way to long-awaited title

World number 44 Matteo Arnaldi gave Italy the lead by beating Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 in an encounter lasting two and a half hours.

Arnaldi gained an early break but a couple of unforced errors and a double fault enabled the Australian to break straight back in an opening set filled with tension.

Popyrin then saved three set points before holding serve for 5-5 but - after Arnaldi had saved two break points in the following game - missed two routine volleys as the Italian broke to take the first set.

The second set was almost one-way traffic with Popyrin shaking off his early nerves and levelling the match as the errors flowed from Arnaldi's racket.

And Arnaldi was hanging on in the third set, saving seven break points in his first four service games while Popyrin held with comparative ease.

But the 22-year-old took his chance in the 10th game. At 30-all, Popyrin sent a forehand long to hand Arnaldi a first match point. And after coming into the net, Popyrin could not control a fierce backhand down the line as Arnaldi drew first blood for the Azzurri.

Sinner completed the job with Italy - who were without the injured Matteo Berrettini - playing in their first Davis Cup Final since 1998 when they were beaten by Sweden in Milan.

Australia will have to wait to add to their tally of 28, four behind record-holders USA.

Malaga to host Davis Cup Finals again in 2024

Malaga has been confirmed as the venue for next year's finals with Seville returning as host city for the women's equivalent, the Billie Jean King Cup, next November.

The Davis Cup 2024 Qualifiers will be held on the first weekend of February with 24 teams competing in 12 home-and-away ties.

The 12 winning nations will join this year's finalists, plus wildcards Spain and Great Britain, in September's Davis Cup Finals Group Stage.