Italy's bid to win the 2021 Davis Cup ended at the quarter-final stage with a 2-1 defeat to Croatia in Turin on Monday.
Fabio Fognini and Jannik Sinner lost the decisive doubles rubber 6-3 6-4 to Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.
But that was almost to be expected against the world's top doubles duo.
What really cost the Azzurri was Lorenzo Sonego's surprise 7-6 2-6 6-2 defeat to Borna Gojo in the opener.
Sinner had beaten Maric Cilic 3-6 7-6 6-3 in the middle rubber to put Italy on level terms.
Croatia will face Serbia or Kazakhstan in the semi-finals in Madrid.
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