Volandri: “He didn’t say he was available”. Jannik explains: “The fact that I won it twice had an impact, but I feel fully Italian”
Berrettini, Bolelli, Cobolli, Musetti and Vavassori. These are the five Italian tennis players called up by the non-playing captain Filippo Volandri for Italy’s Davis Cup match in Bologna on 18 November. There is no Jannik Sinner, although theoretically there is still the possibility that the South Tyrolean will participate. The regulation in fact allows teams to change up to three players in the squad up to a week before the start of the match. The Italian number one will therefore be Lorenzo Musetti. Sinner, absolute protagonist of the last two editions of the Davis Cup victorious in Malaga in 2023 and 2024, has not yet closed the door and much will depend on the progress of the ATP Finals in Turin. If Jannik were to win he could renew the duel with Carlos Alcaraz who is instead part of the Spanish squad called up at the Bologna fair.
Volandri: “He didn’t say he was available”
The Italian captain Volandri recalled the strength of our team underlining that “for Jannik the doors are always open even if for the moment has not given its availability for 2025″. No controversy even from the Federation even if the president Binaghi admits that “Sinner’s resignation is very painful for us”. Italy will begin their journey to the quarter-finals againstAustriathen in the eventual semi-final one between France And Belgiumwhile only in the final the hypothetical clash with the Spain Of Alcarazwhich instead it will be in Bologna. “We will have to overcome insidious opponents,” adds Volandri, “but I am lucky enough to be able to count on a large squad of players who will allow us to face the match with the maximum convictionIn recent days Sinner had hidden behind a diplomatic “We’ll see” when asked about the next appointment in Davis. On Saturday he won the exhibition tournament in Riyadh, in Saudi Arabia, putting it in your pocket 6 million dollars plus the gold racket worth half a million (he announced it will be sold, and the proceeds given to charity at the San Candido hospital). Now Vienna, then the Masters1000 in Paris and the ATP Finals in Turin scheduled from 9 to 17 November.
Jannik’s explanation
From Vienna where he will make his debut in the ATP 500 against Altmaier on Wednesday, Sinner explained his renunciation of the Davis Cup: “I won the Davis Cup twice. With my team we decided this way because the season at the end of the year is very long and I need an extra week off to start my preparation first. The objective is to start again in the best possible way in Australia”. “The important thing is to start well in 2026, an extra week of preparation changes. It’s a tough choice to give up Davishaving already won twice has had its weight”. A choice that was not easy and which takes nothing away from his attachment to the blue shirt: “I feel fully Italian”
