Matteo Berrettini has revealed that he got called for a routine post-match anti-doping test during Italy’s Davis Cup triumph on Sunday – and missed the first set of teammate Flavio Cobolli’s winning match. Berrettini and Cobolli went undefeated throughout Davis Cup Finals week in Bologna and helped their country win the World Cup of men’s tennis for the third year running in front of a home crowd.

Berrettini stormed past Pablo Carreno Busta 6-3 6-4 before Cobolli pulled off a heroic comeback against Jaume Munar, winning 1-6 7-6(5) 7-5 to clinch the trophy for Italy. But the world No. 56 was left feeling “stressed” when he was late to cheer Cobolli on, and had the rest of the Italian squad messaging him to hurry up.

Former Wimbledon finalist Berrettini has been a vocal member of the Italy camp for years, cheering the team on to victory in 2023 and 2024. And he played a crucial role in their triumph this year, winning all three of his singles matches during Finals week.

The 29-year-old kept cheering for Cobolli throughout the week after winning his own matches. But he was late to the team bench during Sunday’s final, and missed the first set, which saw Munar break twice to take it 6-1.

Berrettini made it back in time to see Cobolli turn the match around – and he later explained: “It was stressful. Was stressful because I was elected for, like everyone else, doping. After my match, I had to do what I had to do. I was, ‘Okay, I’m going to lose the first 20 minutes’. The first 20 minutes was the first set.

“Lorenzo [Sonego] actually texted me, Come here, we need you. We started screaming as loud as we could. I think that’s the strength, the weapon that we have. We are so together. We play together. Doesn’t matter who’s playing. We’re playing in five every time, and six with the captain. It was a team effort even though we played just two singles. That’s why it feels special.”

A former world No. 6, Berrettini’s career has been scuppered by injuries, and he was forced to miss the French Open and US Open this year. But the 10-time title winner was motivated to recover in time to play the Davis Cup in front of a home crowd – and he did just that.

Reflecting on Italy’s three consecutive titles, Berrettini said: “I mean, I feel like every year is different for different reasons. First time I watch it from outside. I couldn’t touch it and lift it. I used that kind of energy to come back and win it last year.

“This year, I used the motivation to play here in Bologna during the summer when I wasn’t feeling my best. I have to say the Captain, the Federation, Umberto Rianna, who is not here but is a big part of this team, helped me and always gave me the confidence to tell me if I was fit, I would have been considered, which I don’t give it for granted.

“It’s a special feeling. I have to say that we have such a long team, a lot of players that could have played. These guys that played another unbelievable season in doubles. Again, I’m going to say the team is really strong because the connection is really strong between us. We know each other since a long time. It’s just too nice to play with them.”