Italy's Matteo Berrettini comfortably beat Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4 6-2 in the first singles clash of the Davis Cup final against the Netherlands on Sunday to hand the holders a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three tie.

Matteo Berrettini showed his class with a heartfelt gesture after putting Italy ahead in Sunday's Davis Cup final. The world No. 35 beat Botic van de Zandschulp to give his nation the lead over the Netherlands.

Italy had won the Davis Cup for the first time since 1976 last year, and will look to defend their crown against the Netherlands on Sunday

World number one Jannik Sinner helped defending champions Italy book their place in the Davis Cup final with a 2-0 win over Australia in Malaga.

Matteo Berrettini justified his promotion to Italy’s singles lineup by putting aside a collapse at the end of the first set and coming back to beat Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-5 Saturday,

Italian Jannik Sinner completed a remarkable season on Sunday by sealing his country a second successive Davis Cup title with a 2-0 victory over Netherlands in the final at the southern Spanish city of Malaga.

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini won matches Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in front of a supportive crowd to lift defending champion Italy past Australia 2-0 and back into the Davis Cup final.

Matteo Berrettini has put Italy ahead 1-0 against the Netherlands in the final of the Davis Cup by beating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-2.

MALAGA, Spain (Reuters) -Defending champions Italy moved into the Davis Cup final after a 2-0 win over Australia on Saturday as Jannik Sinner defeated Alex de Minaur in straight sets to follow up Matteo Berrettini's victory over Thanasi Kokkinakis.