Sonego and Sinner seal quarter-final spot for Italy

World No.10 Jannik Sinner and No.27 Lorenzo Sonego saw off a spirited effort from Colombians Daniel Elahi Galan and Nicolas Mejia, respectively, to book Italy's place in the Davis Cup by Rakuten quarter-finals.

Early favourites to progress to the last eight ahead of USA and Colombia, the Group E hosts made good on their billing when Sinner followed Sonego's battling 6-7(5) 6-4 6-2 triumph over world No.275 Mejia with a more straightforward 7-5 6-0 win over No.111 Galan.

Juan-Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah ensured Columbia head into Sunday's clash with USA with a match-win to their name after beating Fabio Fognini and Sinner 6-2 5-7 7-6(6) in a fiercely-contested doubles match that finished just shy of 3am. But, even with the late night and doubles defeat, it was very much Italy's day.

Filippo Volandri's men can look forward to another tie in front of home fans in Turin on Monday evening when they will play the winner of Group D for a place in the semi-finals in Madrid.

"It's an unbelievable feeling playing here and it is a great feeling to be already qualified," said Sinner. "I think me and Lorenzo played a great [singles] match, a tough match against tough opponents. Obviously it means a lot for us."

In Sinner, they have a player who appears capable of leading his nation all the way - a feat the Italians have achieved only once before in the competition back in 1976 - but the world No. 10, who only made his Davis Cup debut on Friday, is taking things one tie at a time.

"We are a great group of incredible players," he continued. "We have two players with a lot of experience in Simone (Bolelli) and Fabio (Fognini), and me and both Lorenzos (Sonego and Musetti) are young players. We still have so much to learn, we have a great captain as well. For us it's just a pleasure to play here in this arena. We'll try our best on Monday as well."

Sinner was quick out of the blocks against Galan, securing a 3-2 lead when the-over eager Colombian threw in two hurried forehand errors - first flinging a reply long and then striking the net tape - as he tried to find a way through the Italian's defence.

Galan broke right back, rather fortuitously, when his routine forehand clipped the net tape and dropped over the net with Sinner stranded at the back of the court.

Sinner made the telling move in the 11th game, breaking to love with a trademark inside-out forehand winner that dipped sweetly into the corner, and promptly served out the opening set.

He ramped up the style in the second, showcasing the kind of play that has been a regular feature during his career best-season this year, whipping flashy forehand winners - 14 off that flank by the match's end - from all corners to seal Italy's spot in the quarter-finals.

Earlier, hometown hero Sonego overcame a nervy start to see off a hugely promising young talent in Mejia.

Sonego, who lives a mere 200 metres from the Pala Aplitour Arena in Turin and has revelled in the men's world cup of tennis being partially staged in such familiar surroundings, couldn't rely solely on home comforts and had to dig mighty deep to see off the world No. 275.

"In the first set I was too tight," admitted Sonego. "He played a good match. He's definitely a player that can grow, but I'm delighted I won the match."

Mejia, who was facing a Top-100 player for just the second time in his career, appeared determined to impress on his second Davis Cup appearance… and did just that.

"I have always said that playing for Colombia, playing Davis Cup, it's the best thing that tennis has given me," said the former junior world No. 4.

"Playing for the country lifts my level and I appreciate that. I really enjoy that. I really look forward to playing many more ties and many more matches for Colombia."

Mejia stole Sonego's opening service game with a fierce backhand down the line and, though the Italian soon hit back, Mejia doggedly defied the 248 ranking spots between them and pushed him all the way to a tiebreak.

Mejia took an awkward tumble late in the first set and required attention to his right hand, but shrugged off the injury to clinch the opening set with a glorious backhand winner - his sixth of the set - before roaring in delight.

Sonego struck back in the second set, sealing an early break that he held all the way to the end to force a decider where, with two hours on the clock, Mejia's level finally began to dip.

The Colombian played his part in a thrilling game of cat-and-mouse at the start of the third set, but that effort appeared to take the wind from his sails. Sonego broke twice for a 4-1 lead, before cruising through to victory to set up Sinner to complete the job.

Italy march on, but Colombia have plenty to show for the day - not least the makings of a future star in Mejia.

"I'm really sad I wasn't able to give this point to Colombia, but I'm proud that I left everything out there," said the 21-year-old. "I love playing for Colombia, that's just the minimum I can do, but certainly I will learn a lot [from this]."

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