Jannik Sinner is one of, if not the best player in the world.
It’s understandable why any team he is eligible for would be heartbroken to see him absent.
That emotion is always bound to be maximised when it comes to national pride too, with there being an unspoken expectation to always put your country first on a sporting front.
Tennis, however, is a unique sport, where there are very few team competitions.
That is what makes the Davis Cup so special, even if it has been dominated by Italy for the last two years.
As they sought to push for a historic three-peat though, they were dealt some bad news, as Jannik Sinner made the tough decision to snub this year’s event. The reaction, particularly from the Italian media, was not sympathetic.
How the media reacted to Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from the Davis Cup
It was just before he claimed the title in Vienna where he announced he would not be participating in the Davis Cup finals, telling reporters: “I’m a two-time Davis Cup winner.
“My team and I made this decision because the season is very long at the end of the year and I need an extra week of rest to start my preparation earlier. The goal is to get off to a good start in Australia.
“In the last two years, I haven’t reached my best level because I lacked time, that’s why we made this decision. We’ll see.”
And yet, despite Italy still boasting a strong team, one renowned Italian journalist, Bruno Vespa, claimed: “Why should an Italian root for Sinner? He speaks German, lives in Monte Carlo, doesn’t play for the national team in the Davis Cup to take an extra week of vacation.”
Nico Pietrangela, a two-time Roland Garros champion, added: “It’s a huge slap in the face for Italian sport.”
Even one key sporting outlet, Gazzetta dello Sport, wrote their front-page headline as: “Sinner, think it over again.”
It’s fair to say that his decision has now been justified.
Italy win the Davis Cup without Jannik Sinner
Realistically, Italy won this year’s Davis Cup with minimal fuss. They were efficient and brilliant, and did not lose a match throughout the finals.
Matteo Berrettini stepped into the role of Italy’s main man alongside Flavio Cobolli as they brushed aside Austria, then Belgium, before beating Spain in the final.
It seems that they didn’t need Sinner, and now the world number two will get the rest he needs without having sacrificed an international honour.
Italy are the first team to win three straight Davis Cup titles since 1972. It’s worth questioning who could possibly challenge them in 2026, especially if Sinner decides to reintegrate himself into the event.
