Spain’s Doubles Grit Propels Return to Davis Cup Final
Amid Bologna’s electric tension, a depleted Spanish squad outmaneuvered Germany in a semifinal decider, their doubles pair’s poise securing a long-awaited berth against defending champions Italy.
In the humming Unipol Arena in Bologna, Italy, Spain’s Davis Cup semifinal against Germany pulsed with the weight of national expectation. Without their injured top player, the team navigated a grueling tie on the indoor hard court, where quick bounces amplified every strategic choice. The outcome rested on resilience, as singles split evenly before the doubles duo delivered the decisive edge.
Singles forge a narrow path
Pablo Carreño Busta launched Spain’s effort with a 6-4, 7-6 (6) triumph over Jan-Lennard Struff, his deep crosscourt forehands pinning the German deep and countering the power from inside-out returns. Struff dominated early with booming serves that exploited the surface’s speed, but Carreño Busta’s low returns and topspin redirection turned the tide. He erased five straight set points in the tiebreaker, his baseline consistency giving Spain an opening lead amid growing crowd fervor.
Alexander Zverev restored balance for Germany, outlasting Jaume Munar 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5) through tiebreaks that highlighted his serve precision and aggressive net play. Munar’s scrambling defense extended rallies, forcing Zverev to vary with slice backhands that skidded low on the hard court. Yet the German’s down-the-line forehands in clutch moments leveled the tie at 1-1, intensifying the pressure for the rubber that would decide the finalists.
Doubles duo disrupts German rhythm
Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martínez struck the knockout, toppling Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 to clinch a 2-1 victory for Spain. The Spanish pair overwhelmed early with Granollers’ volley rushes and Martínez’s underspin lobs that hung in the air, disrupting the Germans’ 1–2 combinations at net. After yielding the second set to Pütz’s lefty spin and Krawietz’s lob counters, they pivoted to shorter returns, rushing forward for crosscourt poaches that exposed weaknesses in the higher-ranked duo’s setup.
This upset marked only the second Davis Cup defeat for Pütz and Krawietz, underscoring the Spaniards’ mental sharpness under the arena’s roar. Granollers drew on his final experience to steady volleys, while Martínez’s flat passing shots down-the-line pierced gaps in the third set. Their tactical adjustments on the even-bouncing surface turned potential vulnerability into dominance, propelling Spain forward without Carlos Alcaraz‘s firepower.
Final promises tactical showdown
Spain’s first final appearance in six years sets up a clash with two-time defending champions Italy, who bested Belgium the previous day. The Italians’ mix of youthful speed and veteran depth will test the Spaniards’ adaptability on neutral ground. As Bologna’s echoes fade, this underdog surge hints at a redemption arc, where geometry and grit could rewrite the Davis Cup narrative once more.