Italy is set to take on Switzerland this Sunday, December 29, 2024, at the United Cup 2025, marking the official start of the new tennis season. The match will be held at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney, with play beginning at 07:30 Italian time. This matchup follows Italy's impressive run as the 2023 Davis Cup finalist, where they were narrowly defeated by the United States.
The United Cup format showcases one men's singles, one women's singles, and one mixed doubles match. Italy, entering the tournament as the defending finalist, includes prominent players like Flavio Cobolli, who currently holds the number 32 spot on the ATP rankings, and Jasmin Paolini, ranked number 4 on the WTA list.
The Swiss team, ranked first in Group D after their recent victory over France (2-1), will also bring strong competitors, including Dominic Stricker, currently positioned at number 300, and Belinda Bencic, who made her return to the tour after maternity leave.
Before the match, Italy’s coach Renzo Furlan expressed optimism about his players’ readiness, saying, "We are happy with what we have achieved in 2024 and motivated to do well here day after day. We trained really well in Sydney." Furlan emphasized the significance of maintaining high performance levels and adapting to the rivalry they face this weekend, signifying how every match counts.
Cobolli's recent form has been particularly noteworthy, clinching his career-high ranking of number 30 after competing favorably throughout 2024. He displayed remarkable tenacity, defeating Switzerland's Stricker 6-3, 7-6(2) during their recent clash at the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals. Reflecting on his performance against Stricker, Cobolli said, "Of course I think I played a really good match. It's always a great thing to play with the flag of Italy on the heart, with some friends on the bench, with my dad on the bench. It was fun and I did great things today for us."
Looking forward, the match will also feature Paolini against Bencic. Paolini is eager to build on her successes from earlier this season and tackle the challenges Switzerland's Bencic presents. "I'm mainly focused on maintaining my level of play," Paolini said. She recognizes the difficulty of replicability year-over-year, stating, "2025 will be a different year from the one about to end."
The matches will be broadcast live on Super Tennis, channel 64 on digital terrestrial, offering tennis fans the opportunity to witness the excitement of this international competition between two fierce tennis nations.
Outside of the United Cup, other Italian players, including Matteo Arnaldi and Matteo Berrettini, are competing at the Brisbane International. Berrettini aims to improve from his current rank of 34, going up against Australian player Jordan Thompson. This broader talent pool showcases Italy’s strong presence on the circuit, reflecting on their recent successes and potential as the 2025 season unfurls.
With memories of 2023 still fresh, the upcoming match promises to reignite the competitive spirit and camaraderie of tennis as fans gear up for what could be another thrilling year.