Canada has already clinched this group at the Davis Cup Finals and will move on to the knockout rounds. America and Italy, though, are fighting for the opportunity to join the Canadians. Nothing is guaranteed, but the top two second-place teams also advance to the knockout rounds, and the Americans and Italians are definitely in the mix. Each country could use a decisive win. Will that happen? Let’s look ahead to the matchups.
Davis Cup Finals Day 3 Predictions: USA vs Italy
Reilly Opelka vs Fabio Fognini
The United States really needs to win this match to have much of a chance, and I think they’re going to get it here. Opelka and Fognini have met once before, at the US Open a few months ago. The tall American won that match in four sets, and he should like this matchup for a repeat.
Neither player was particularly great in their first matches here, and both lost to Canada’s Vasek Pospisil in straight sets. Opelka lost both tiebreaks, while Fognini only took one of his two sets to tiebreaks. Still, the Opelka serve is working, and his ground game is decent enough to break Fognini once per set. And, really, that’s all Opelka needs.
Prediction: Opelka in 2
Taylor Fritz vs Matteo Berrettini
This pair of promising youngsters has never met before, but Berrettini is so much further along in his career than the American is. He has already cracked the Top 10 and just competed at this year’s Nitto ATP Finals. Fritz is a solid player, but he doesn’t have much to really challenge the consistent and hard-hitting Italian with.
Both players lost to Denis Shapovalov in their opening matches, but Berrettini was much closer to beating him. Fritz lost in straight sets, while Shapovalov needed to win two out of three tiebreaks to snatch the match away from Berrettini.
Prediction: Berretini in 2
Sam Querrey and Jack Sock vs Simone Bolelli and Andreas Seppi
The tie should come down to this match, which is good news for the Americans. Jack Sock’s drop off of the singles tour has been rapid and precipitous, but he’s still one of the best doubles players in the world. Sock does not currently have a singles ranking as he did not win a single points-earning match this year. However, he carried Jackson Withrow all the way to the US Open quarterfinals in doubles a few months ago.
Sock never planned to be a doubles specialist, but that’s what he is. Partnering with another strong doubles player in Sam Querrey should give the United States a much-needed win and a shot at the knockout round here at the Davis Cup Finals.
Prediction: Sock/Querrey in 2
