Responsibility, not pressure, as Italy eyes a historic Davis Cup hat trick

With Bologna hosting the Davis Cup Finals, the Italian national team faces a rare and daunting opportunity — a shot at three consecutive titles.

But for Captain Filippo Volandri, the moment calls not for pressure, but perspective.

“Obviously we feel more responsibility this year,” Volandri said at the team’s pre-tournament press conference. “Actually after the two victories in 2023, 2024, we feel now the responsibility to have it here in Italy. This is not pressure, it’s just responsibility.”

That statement might seem subtle, but it cuts to the core of Volandri’s leadership style. Since taking the helm in 2020, the former ATP Tour player has guided Team Italy through emotional highs, tactical battles, and now into a position of historic significance. And he has done it all with calm clarity.

“I’m captain for five years, so I’m not surprised any more of nothing,” Volandri said when asked about Austria’s unexpected qualification for the Final 8. “We know that Davis Cup is not a normal tournament, is completely different. We know that most of the time ranking doesn’t count, so I’m not impressed, I’m not surprised.”

Volandri’s steady demeanor is echoed in the way he talks about his counterpart, Austrian captain Jurgen Melzer. The two share history as players and now face off from the sidelines.

“We know each other for a long time. He beat me in the Final on clay. I beat him in Paris Bercy, hard court indoors, which is quite strange, but that tennis is,” Volandri said with a smile. “He’s a great guy. He’s a great captain. He’s doing an unbelievable job. That’s why we should have a lot of respect for him.”

But for Volandri, respect for the opponent never eclipses belief in his own team. “Starting from us, we know we are a strong team, we are a great team from the other side,” he declared.

That belief is rooted not in flashy dominance, but in discipline, mutual respect, and tactical maturity. It’s no surprise then that the players reflect that philosophy. Matteo Berrettini, who returned from injury with the Davis Cup as a motivational beacon, credited Volandri with maintaining that cohesion.

“The captain always knew it, I used the Davis Cup as a goal to come back when I was injured, feeling the love of the guys,” said Berrettini. “Everybody texted me when I wasn’t feeling my best, helped me a lot. I’m really happy here to represent Italy once again.”

Even younger players like Flavio Cobolli echoed that collective identity over individual hierarchy. Despite being Italy’s highest-ranked player at the moment, Cobolli downplayed any notion of leadership.

“No, actually I am the younger also. I’m not the leader, for sure, of this team,” he said. “We are all the leader. We have a great relationship each other. We trying to help each other every moment during the day.”

For Volandri, this environment isn’t accidental. It’s engineered. He’s fostered a culture where roles are fluid, responsibility is shared, and expectations are recalibrated into manageable goals. As a result, the squad carries itself with focus and composure.

“Yeah, we all fight for the trophy and that’s it, I would say,” Volandri concluded, distilling the week ahead into simple terms.

This weekend, Italy isn’t just chasing another Davis Cup. They’re chasing a legacy. And if Filippo Volandri has anything to say about it, they’ll do it not with pressure, but with poise.