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THE FACTS
When is Italy vs Argentina on and what time does it start? Italy vs Argentina will take place on Friday 16th September, 2022 – not before 15:00 (UK)
Where is Italy vs Argentina taking place? Italy vs Argentina will take place at Unipol Arena in Bologna, Italy
What surface is Italy vs Argentina being played on? Italy vs Argentina will take place on an indoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Italy vs Argentina? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Italy vs Argentina
What channel is Italy vs Argentina on in the UK? TBC
Where can I stream Italy vs Argentina in the UK? TBC
THE LOWDOWN
Italy delighted home fans in Bologna on Wednesday in a 3-0 victory over last season’s Davis Cup runners-up Croatia. With Jannik Sinner sitting out the opening tie as first option, debutant Lorenzo Musetti came in to face Borna Gojo as the second option with great aplomb, in exactly the kind of conditions the flashy 20-year-old thrives. Former world number six Matteo Berrettini was then freed up to play Borna Coric in Sinner’s place, where he came back from a set down to the Cincinnati champion to eventually win fairly comfortably. Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini provided the upset of the tie, though, with an excellent three-set victory over former world number one doubles pairing Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.
Argentina looked like coming through their opening Davis Cup tie comfortably against an underpowered Sweden but both world number 17 Diego Schwartzman and number 37 Sebastian Baez were shocked by the Ymer brothers. 21-year-old Baez at least took a set in a tight clash with Elias Ymer, ranked outside the top 100, but Schwartzman’s straight-sets defeat to world number 98 Ymer was a concerning result for the 30-year-old. Maximo Gonzalez and Horacio Zeballos rescued a point for the Argentines with a comeback victory in the doubles but there needs to be serious improvements in this toughest of clashes.
THE PREDICTION
Italy look like one of the teams to beat at the Davis Cup Finals later this year and they got off to a 3-0 start without even utilising world number 11 Jannik Sinner. The 21-year-old will likely be called in for this second tie with a, at least on paper, more dangerous opponent than Croatia but world number 30 Lorenzo Musetti may well keep his place after performing so well on Tuesday. Either way, Matteo Berrettini is very likely to play and he could be expected to beat either of Baez or Schwartzman. The home crowd is also likely to pull Bolelli and Fognini over the line against Gonzalez and Zeballos, making taking Italy to win outright the suitably cautious call and 3-0 a reasonable option if Sinner starts.