Jannik Sinner has copped backlash from his home country after announcing he will not take part in Italy’s Davis Cup title defence on home soil.
The world number two had previously said that he was unsure of his participation in the final eight of the international tournament, which will be held in Bologna over November 18-23.
“Jannik Sinner has not made himself available for 2025,” Italian team captain Filippo Volandri said.
“The Davis Cup is and will always be his home and I’m sure that Jannik will come back to the team soon.”
Sinner said he would play in the ATP end of season finals in Turin (November 9-16) before taking the time to recover in preparation for January’s Australian Open.
“It wasn’t an easy decision, but after Turin the goal is to get off on the right foot in Australia,” Sinner said.
“It may not seem like it, but a week of preparation during that period can make all the difference. We won the Davis Cup in 2023 and 2024, and this time we decided this with my team.”
Not everyone was impressed with Sinner’s move to withdraw from the Davis Cup.
Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport featured the news on its front page with the headline: “Sinner, think it over again.”
An editorial in the newspaper said: “So you’re not going to return to Riyadh for another $6 million?
“If you win another Wimbledon, you won’t go to London anymore?
“Pasta, coffee … Every five minutes you promote an Italian product. Do it with tennis, too.”
Italy’s two-time French Open winner Nicola Pietrangeli told: “It’s a big slap in the face to the Italian sports world.”
Pietrangeli, 92, told the ASNA Italian news agency: “I don’t understand when he talks about difficult choices. He has to play tennis, not wage war.
“When they mention the Davis Cup, I get excited because the goal of an athlete is to wear the blue jersey. But unfortunately, I’m talking about another era. I hope that during the Davis Cup he doesn’t go and play somewhere else. Today, the world is too full of money. They leave their hearts behind.”
There is particular consternation because this is the first time the Davis Cup finals, under its present eight-team format, are being held in Italy after the ITF decided to capitalise on the popularity of tennis in the country. It has been held in Spain for the past five editions, in Madrid in 2019 and 2021, and in Malaga from 2022 to 2024.
Thanks to Sinner Italy won its first Davis Cup since 1976 two years ago and then retained the trophy in 2024.
But it will be up to Lorenzo Musetti, Matteo Berrettini, Simone Bolelli, Andrea Vavassori and Flavio Cobolli to fly the flag for Italy as they chase a third consecutive Davis Cup triumph.
Sinner’s participation had been in doubt since the four-time grand slam winner said last week he didn’t know whether he would represent his country.
The 24-year-old made that statement while in Riyadh for the Six Kings Slam exhibition tournament which he won by beating Spanish rival Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz will play for Spain in the Davis Cup finals, while Germany will be led by Alexander Zverev.
Australia won’t feature in the Davis Cup final eight after suffering a surprise loss to Belgium in a qualifying tie in Sydney last month.
