MALAGA, Spain (AP) — 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, moving the defending Davis Cup champion to the verge of returning to the final.

Humble hero Thanasi Kokkinakis is hailing Lleyton Hewitt as "the best coach in the world" after the injury-plagued talent answered a courageous captain's call with a Davis Cup win for the ages in Spain.

Italy and Australia battle it out for a place in the Davis Cup final. The first to take to the court are Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Thanasi Kokkinakis has saved four match points and eventually converted his seventh in a 30-point tiebreaker to get past Ben Shelton 6-1, 4-6, 7-6 and give Australia a 1-0 lead over the United States in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in Malaga.

The Davis Cup semifinals promise drama, passion, and some incredible tennis action, and this year is no different. Italy's Lorenzo Musetti faces off against Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis in a pivotal singles match.

The United States and Australia are headed to a deciding doubles match in the Davis Cup quarterfinals in Malaga, Spain. Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis saved four match points in a third-set

Australia’s hopes of reaching the Davis Cup final have been dealt an early blow after Thanasi Kokkinakis lost out in a tight three-set battle to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in Spain.