Australia's hopes of another Davis Cup final appearance have ended after Alex de Minaur and Thanasi Kokkinakis suffered back-to-back singles defeats against their Italian opponents in Spain.
After Kokkinakis was downed in a tight three-set battle to Matteo Berrettini in the opening singles rubber in Malaga on Saturday, de Minaur was outgunned in straight sets by world No.1 Jannik Sinner.
Runners-up to Italy last year and to Canada in 2022, Australia were battling to become the first nation to reach three successive Davis Cup finals since achieving that feat from 1999 to 2001.
But Leighton Hewitt's team saw that dream ended when Sinner's 6-3 6-4 victory confirmed it was defending champions Italy who moved in to Sunday's final.
De Minaur was up against it early on and twice had his serve broken as Sinner claimed the first set.
And Sinner, who won both Australian and US Opens this year, confirmed his dominance after breaking again to lead 5-4 and serving out to wrap a 6-3, 6-4 win.
"Hopefully this can give us confidence for tomorrow," said Sinner.
The defining result came after Kokkinakis had earlier lost out to Berrettini.
Kokkinakis was instrumental in giving Australia an early lead in their quarter-final victory over USA on Friday when he overcame big-serving American Ben Shelton in Malaga.
Skipper Hewitt had selected the 28-year-old against the Americans ahead of the higher-ranked Alexei Popyrin and Jordan Thompson.
And Adelaidean Kokkinakis nearly delivered again for his country on Saturday before narrowly losing out 7-6 (8-6) 3-6 5-7 in the opening singles rubber.
Kokkinakis, fresh off winning the NSW Open's ATP Challenger Tour event in Sydney, showed he meant business in a see-saw first set before edging a nervy tie-break 8-6 after Berrettini had contrived to blow three set points.
But backed by vociferous Italian support, Berrettini fought back with some sublime power hitting to level the match and taking the second set 6-3.
Australia captain, Lleyton Hewitt watches on as Thanasi Kokkinakis loses out to Matteo Berrettini. (AP PHOTO)
And after Kokkinakis finally cracked when suffering a crucial service break at 5-5 in the decider, Berrettini held firm to serve out the match.
"We're in Spain," Kokkinakis said, "but it felt like we were in Italy.
"It was a tough match. He served incredible. 89 per cent in the third set and it didn't give me much of a chance to look in.
Matteo Berrettini (r) comforts Thanasi Kokkinakis after winning the opening semi-final rubber. (AP PHOTO)
"I regret a game I played in the second set where I lost a little bit of focus to get broken. I lost my concentration for a little bit in the third set."
Italy now go on to face the Netherlands on Sunday for the title after the Dutch claimed a shock quarterfinal victory over Germany in Friday's first semifinal.