DAVIS CUP FINALS

November 17, 2025

Filippo Volandri

Flavio Cobolli

Matteo Berrettini

Andrea Vavassori

Simone Bolelli

Lorenzo Sonego

Team Italy

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll start the press conference with Team Italy.

Captain, how has it been being in Italy for this Davis Cup Final?

CAPTAIN FILIPPO VOLANDRI: Well, things are going in a good way. Obviously we feel more responsibility this year. Actually after the two victories in 2023, 2024, we feel now the responsibility to have it here in Italy. This is not pressure, it's just responsibility.

We used to have it, so we looking forward to start this competition.

THE MODERATOR: We'll start with questions.

Q. Filippo, earlier today Jurgen Melzer said he has a long history with you. Born in the same year. He beat you in the Final for his first title. What are your thoughts on Jurgen, seeing you're going to be facing one another?

CAPTAIN FILIPPO VOLANDRI: We know each other for a long time. He beat me in the Final on clay. I beat him in Paris Bercy, hard court indoors, which is quite strange, but that tennis is (smiling).

Yeah, I know him as a person. He's a great guy. He's a great captain. He's doing an unbelievable job. That's why we should have a lot of respect for him. Also not for him, but all the Austrian team. They did a great tie before to get qualified for the Final 8. So yeah, a lot of respect.

But starting from us, we know we are a strong team, we are a great team from the other side.

Q. It was a little bit of a surprise that Austria qualified for the Davis Cup Finals?

CAPTAIN FILIPPO VOLANDRI: I'm captain for five years, so I'm not surprised any more of nothing. We know that Davis Cup is not a normal tournament, is completely different. We know that most of the time ranking doesn't count, so I'm not impressed, I'm not surprised.

I think this year the draw is quite equal. Yeah, we all fight for the trophy and that's it, I would say.

Q. Flavio, you're the leader of the team. Did you expect to have such a role? I mean, you're the best ranked player, so do you feel you have to behave like a leader? How do you fit in this role?

FLAVIO COBOLLI: No, actually I am the younger also. I'm not the leader, for sure, of this team. We are all the leader. We have a great relationship each other. We trying to help each other every moment during the day.

My team, we are all leader on this team. Yeah, we are looking forward for the first match against Austria.

Q. Matteo, you've had quite an interesting journey in this competition over the last couple years. How motivated are you to win it for another time in Italy?

MATTEO BERRETTINI: Yeah, it's always been a great pleasure, great honor being part of the team. The captain always knew it, I used the Davis Cup as a goal to come back when I was injured, feeling the love of the guys. Everybody texted me when I wasn't feeling my best, helped me a lot. I'm really happy here to represent Italy once again.

Hopefully we going to have a good run as well this year. But we know that every match, it's tough. Like the Captain said, Davis Cup is full of surprises. We have to be ready. We have to be focused. Ranking doesn't really matter. I think it's all about wanting to win the match and the tie and think about the next point.

I hope we are ready for that.

Q. Simone, obviously you've played the longest, the longest playing career of the Italian team. What is it like for you playing here in Bologna for the Davis Cup Finals?

SIMONE BOLELLI: Well, for me it's such an honor, first of all, to play with these guys. We've known each other since a long time. They're all amazing players. Every time I spend time with the guys, I'm really happy.

Then, of course, play at home is a big advantage for me. For me also, I play in front of my crowd since already three years. This can happen, for sure. We just also play in Turin. When we play in Italy, we give some extra on court. This is on our side.

Q. You recently played twice against Alexander Erler, but with another partner he played. Does it make any difference going into the match, if it's going to happen?

SIMONE BOLELLI: Yeah, we play against him twice. We lost twice in the last month. But every match is different. The competition and other things, I mean, the other rules.

They have a really good player, good doubles. Miedler, Erler, they're good friends also. They're playing long time together.

But every match is different. Here is another competition, other rules, so we'll see.

ANDREA VAVASSORI: Yeah, I think we played much better, our level was much bigger in Turin. Our confidence is raising up. We played three very good matches in the group. The semi was tough, but yeah, I think the confidence is up. We're ready to play in case.

Q. Lore, you came into the team late. How are you feeling about this week and the first tie?

LORENZO SONEGO: No, I'm so happy to stay with these guys. We have a great relationship out of the court. Yeah, it's honor also for me to stay here. Yeah, when the captain call me, I just respond, Yes, of course (smiling).

Yeah, just want to put my energy for the team and just enjoy the competition. It's really nice to compete with our crowd in Bologna. Let's see.