The rising star and the seasoned veteran: a symbol of the present and future of a national team that has stood at the summit of world tennis for the past two years.

In a ceremony held in the Sala delle Fiaccole at the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) headquarters, Matteo Arnaldi was awarded the Collare d'Oro al Merito Sportivo (Golden Collar for Sporting Merit) for his pivotal role in Italy’s 2023 Davis Cup triumph. Simone Bolelli, meanwhile, received the prestigious honour not only for that same historic victory but also for contributing to Italy's latest success in 2024 — a testament to the country's growing dominance in the sport.

The awards were presented by CONI President Giovanni Malagò and General Secretary Carlo Mornati.

Arnaldi, born in Sanremo in 2001, played a decisive role in the thrilling campaign led by captain Filippo Volandri. Two seasons ago, Italy clinched the Davis Cup title by defeating Australia in the final, thanks to victories by Jannik Sinner over Alex de Minaur and Arnaldi’s crucial win against Alexei Popyrin.

For Bolelli, this marks the second and third Golden Collars of a distinguished career, having previously received the accolade for his Grand Slam victory in the 2015 Australian Open doubles alongside Fabio Fognini. A true stalwart of Italian tennis, Bolelli continues to be an indispensable figure both on and off the court.