The Albany Gazette - Spain to face holders Italy in Davis Cup final

As in the quarter-final victory against the Czech Republic, qualification came down to the decisive doubles match, in which Granollers and Martinez defeated German pair Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

"I'm really proud of my players, they had to fight to get this far," said Spain captain David Ferrer.

It is a first final for six-time champions Spain since 2019 and they are playing without injured world number one Carlos Alcaraz.

Italy are also playing without world number two Jannik Sinner and eighth-ranked Lorenzo Musetti.

"The most important is that we're in the Final. Of course, we're playing in Bologna. It's Italy's home," said Ferrer.

"We're going to be ready to fight and to have a chance to win.

"We believe that without Carlos we can do a great week. Now we are in the Final.

"I would like to be focused on my players because tomorrow could be a big, big day for them."

Having rallied after being thoroughly outplayed in the first set, the Germans faltered at the start of the third, losing their serve to love to fall behind 3-1.

Their only break point at 5-3 was saved by an ace from Granollers, and the match ended two points later with a smash from Martinez.

- 'Fighting and believing' -

Pablo Carreno Busta had handed Spain the advantage in the first match of the tie, beating Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 7-6 (8/6).

However, the straight-sets win was not without drama as the Spaniard recovered from 6-1 down in the tie-break to win seven consecutive points and give Spain the edge.

The German had earlier saved three match points to hold on for 5-5 in the second set.

He then started the tie-break impeccably, building what appeared to be an unassailable advantage. But his nerve suddenly deserted him and Carreno Busta pulled off an incredible comeback.

"When you have three match points and you didn't make it, it's true that you probably think a lot of things," said the Spaniard.

"So I just continued fighting and believing.

"It's a really important victory for me and I think also for the Team Spain."

World number three Zverev, the highest-ranked player among the eight teams that qualified in the absence of Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Italy's Jannik Sinner, then levelled by defeating 36th-ranked Jaume Munar 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5).

After seeing his early break wiped out, Zverev made his move in the tie-break to storm to a one-set lead.

Munar hit back by pouncing on the German's serve in the third game of the second frame.

However, Zverev kept his calm to force a second tie-break from which he emerged victorious to bring out the doubles pairings.

"I didn't play my best today," said Zverev.

"I thought the first match (Thursday) was better. But I won. We're in the Davis Cup. It doesn't matter how you win, as long as you get the point for your team."

(W.Walker--TAG)