ROME — Jannik Sinner’s choice to skip the Davis Cup Final 8 in Italy has sparked feelings of betrayal back home, particularly after the strong defense he received during his doping controversy earlier this year.
The world’s second-ranked player, known for guiding Italy to significant team victories over the past two years, expressed his desire to focus on preparing for the upcoming season rather than assisting the Azzurri in their quest for another title in Bologna next month.
“It was a tough decision, but my priority after Turin—where the ATP Finals take place just before the Davis Cup—is to kick off the new season strongly in Australia,” Sinner stated. He is notably the two-time defending champion at the Australian Open.
“A week of preparation during that timeframe can truly make a difference,” Sinner mentioned in a conversation with Sky Italia from Vienna, where he’s currently competing. “We previously clinched the Davis Cup in 2023 and 2024, and my team and I have decided on this direction.”
The prominent headline in Gazzetta dello Sport read: “Sinner, reconsider your stance.”
In an editorial accompanying the headline, the Gazzetta criticized Sinner for claiming he had already won the Davis Cup twice and pointed out that he recently defended his title in a lucrative exhibition in Saudi Arabia.
“So, you won’t return to Riyadh for another $6 million? If you clinch another Wimbledon, you won’t show up in London? You promote pasta and coffee every five minutes — do the same for tennis,” the editorial remarked, referencing the various Italian brands Sinner endorses in media appearances.
Nicola Pietrangeli, a legendary two-time French Open champion and Italy’s former standout, commented, “It feels like a significant slap to the face of Italian sports.”
Earlier this year, Sinner received strong support from Italians during his three-month doping suspension, despite some top players suggesting he was given leniency thanks to his elite status, since the timing did not affect his participation in major Grand Slam events.
Sinner has experienced prejudice
This isn’t the first instance of backlash against Sinner for not representing Italy; criticism arose during the 2023 Davis Cup and when he opted out of the Paris Olympics a year later.
Hailing from the German-speaking region of Alto Adige in northern Italy, Sinner has also faced lingering sentiments questioning his Italian identity.
Recently, controversy ignited when an Italian rapper was accused of evoking racial hatred with lyrics describing Sinner’s accent as reminiscent of “Adolf Hitler.” The rapper, Fedez, has since issued an apology.
Adriano Panatta, who led Italy to its lone Davis Cup victory in 1976, stood up for Sinner’s decision, highlighting that the significance of team tournaments has softened since his playing days.
“Modern tennis demands complete dedication. Players today are akin to CEOs of brands that carry their names,” Panatta wrote in Corriere della Sera. “Sinner has secured the Davis Cup twice and now requires time to prepare for his main ambitions: triumphing at Grand Slams and competing with (Carlos) Alcaraz to reclaim the No. 1 spot.”
Paolo Bertolucci, part of the 1976 team and now a TV analyst, shared his agreement with Panatta’s perspective.
“I see no issue with this decision,” Bertolucci conveyed to the Gazzetta. “Tennis has evolved. The four Slams and the ATP Finals hold the highest priority; everything else is secondary.”
