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.

Australia has fallen agonisingly short of its first Davis Cup title since 2003, losing in the semifinals to Italy. The Australian team reached the semifinal stage for the third consecutive year but in a rematch of last year’s final, were unfavourable in both singles rubbers against the defending champions.

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,

The victory against Australia has brought Italy to the second consecutive Davis Cup final. Now focus on the next opponent: the Netherlands. Davis Cup, Italy's opponents in the final The Dutch

The Netherlands moved to the brink of their first Davis Cup final as Botic Van de Zandschulp held his nerve to beat Germany's Daniel Altmaier 6-4 6-7(12) 6-3 on Friday.

Australia has advanced to the Davis Cup semifinals for the third year in a row. The Australians eliminated the United States 2-1 on Thursday when Matt Ebden and Jordan Thompson beat Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul 6-4,

The Netherlands reach the final of the Davis Cup for the first time as Tallon Griekspoor fights back in his singles match to clinch a 2-0 win over Germany.

An inspired Netherlands team made Davis Cup history as they put their nation into the final for the first time ever with a 2-0 defeat of Germany on Friday. Singles wins for Botic Van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor sparked a party amongst an army of orange-clad Dutch fans inside the Jose Maria Martin Carpena arena.