Italy – Netherlands in Davis Cup 2023: programme, times and how to watch the matches of Jannik Sinner and his teammates in the quarter-finals

2023 Davis Cup quarter-finals: possible lineups for Netherlands and Italy

Of the two individual matches, one seems obvious: the one between them Talon Grixpor And Yannick SinerThe Dutch No. 1 (23rd in the ATP rankings) and the Italian No. 1 (4th in the men’s rankings), respectively. There is only one precedent between the two, dating back to last February 18 on the indoor court RotterdamBlue won the semi-finals in a very balanced match, which ended with a score of 7-5, 7-6⁵. The 1996-born Dutchman also reached his best ranking in November (21st, down two places in recent weeks) and is comfortable on the fast track.

To be determined, at least forItaly, with whom he will face the second singles. If for me Holland There seems to be no doubt about it Van de Zandschulp boutique (No. 51 in the ATP rankings), the Azzurri have three options.

Lorenzo Musetti (27th in the ranking) has not faced the Dutchman since 2021 – the only match between the two – and in that case he lost in the return in the Australian Open qualifiers (3-6, 6-1, 6-4). Furthermore, he finished the season in decline: he had not won since Round 32 China Open 2023 (6-3, 1-6, 6-2 over Karen Khachanov) The last three indoor matches ended in three defeats, in Vienna (6-3, 6-4 to Grigor Dimitrov), in Bercy (again with Dimitrov, 6-2 , 6-7⁴6-3) and in Sophia (7-5, 6-2).

However, a match between Van de Zandschulp and Lorenzo Sonego (47th in the ranking). The Piedmontese team prevailed in Davis in the group stage. His internal record at the end of the season is balanced (4 wins and 3 losses between Stockholm, Vienna and Metz). There wasn’t even a meeting with the Dutch Matteo Arnaldi (44th in the ATP rankings), in 2001 he made his debut in blue in the Davis Cup and performed well.

Rebus finally for the Italian double. If the third match is used to decide who wins the quarter-finals, the Dutch team can count on two players of absolute caliber Wesley Kohlhoff (Fresh from the ATP Finals in Turin) H Jean-Julien Roger. The Blues instead have entered Simone Bolelli He specializes in doubles, but if the decisive match comes, it will be necessary to understand who will support him: will it be Musetti as happened in the irrelevant defeat to Sweden? Or will Sonego take on the doubles role again, as happened in the five-hour marathon with Chile (in this case, with Musetti)?

A question that could have a completely different answer: why Sinner also continued to train in doubles At least until Paris Percy even though he had to stop due to his companion’s withdrawal Stan Wawrinka. In blue, his doubles record is not in his favour. Three defeats out of three: two with Fabio Fognini In 2021 (6-2, 5-7, 7-6⁶ against the Colombian Cabal / Farah and 6-3, 6-4 with the Croatians Mektic / Pavic) and one with Bolelli in 2022 (6-3, 1-6, 7-6).³ Against the Slovaks Polasic/Zelenaj). However, if it is necessary to resort to doubles, Italy will also be able to rely on Sinner.