Sinner Withdraws From 2025 Davis Cup Amid Backlash

Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the 2025 Davis Cup finals in Bologna (Nov 18–23), saying he needs an extra week off after the ATP Finals in Turin to prepare for the Australian Open. Italy captain Filippo Volandri confirmed Sinner "has not made himself available for 2025" while stressing the Davis Cup will always be his home. The decision provoked strong domestic backlash, including a front-page rebuke in Gazzetta dello Sport and criticism from 92‑year‑old Italian tennis legend Nicola Pietrangeli. Supporters and team figures defended the move as season management given Sinner's crowded late-season schedule, citing a reported $6 million exhibition payday in Saudi Arabia, a Vienna appearance and a planned skip of the Paris Masters. Italy named Lorenzo Musetti, Flavio Cobolli, Matteo Berrettini, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori to the squad, and the row has reignited debate about player scheduling and Sinner's place alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the current-era legacy conversation.