Australia's hopes of reaching the Davis Cup final fall short after semi-final singles defeats for Alex de Minaur and Thanasi Kokkinakis against Italy.

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

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.