Italy’s Davis Cup team will have to defend their title without four-time Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner, who has opted out of the tournament to focus on preparation for the 2026 season. The decision comes after a remarkable 2025 campaign for the 24-year-old Italian tennis star, which saw him reach all four Grand Slam singles finals, winning both the Australian Open and Wimbledon.
Sinner’s Remarkable 2025 Season
Jannik Sinner has firmly established himself as one of the elite players on the ATP Tour. Earlier this year, he ascended to the world number one ranking before narrowly losing the US Open final to Carlos Alcaraz in September. Recently, Sinner clinched victory at the Six Kings Slam exhibition event in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating his consistency and high-level performance on the global stage.
Despite his tremendous achievements, Sinner has decided to skip the Davis Cup 2025 in Bologna (18–23 November) to ensure he has adequate preparation for the start of the next season. The ATP Tour Finals in Turin (9–16 November) remain his priority, allowing him time to recover, train, and target peak performance for the 2026 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year.
Italy’s Squad Without Sinner
Italy captain Filippo Volandri confirmed that Sinner had “not given his availability” for the Davis Cup, and as a result, the Italian team will be led by Lorenzo Musetti (world number 8) and Flavio Cobolli (world number 22), who will be the highest-ranked singles players in the squad. Italy, who secured back-to-back Davis Cup titles in 2023 and 2024, will face Austria in the quarter-final.
Volandri praised Sinner’s contributions to Italian tennis, stating:
“The Davis Cup is, and will remain, always his home, and I am sure that Jannik will soon be part of the team again. In the meantime, I can count on a group ready to fight and give everything for the blue jersey.”
Managing the Demands of the Tennis Calendar
Sinner’s absence highlights ongoing concerns among top players about the grueling nature of the professional tennis calendar. Recent weeks have seen other players, such as Holger Rune, sustain season-ending injuries, prompting discussions about player workload and longevity.
British number one Jack Draper voiced concerns on social media, calling for the tour and schedule to adapt to safeguard player health. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz defended the current schedule, distinguishing between exhibition tournaments, which exert less mental and physical strain, and official ranking events.
Sinner, echoing the sentiment of careful career management, emphasized the importance of preparation for the 2026 season:
“It wasn’t an easy decision, but after Turin, the goal is to get off on the right foot in Australia. A week of preparation during this period can make all the difference.”
Looking Ahead: Italy’s Davis Cup Aspirations
Even without Sinner, Italy’s squad remains competitive. Musetti and Cobolli, alongside other members of the team, are expected to carry the mantle and defend Italy’s Davis Cup crown with determination. The team’s depth and Volandri’s guidance provide confidence that Italy can remain a formidable force in the competition, despite the absence of their star player.
With the Davis Cup quarter-finals scheduled for November 18–23, tennis fans will be keenly watching how Italy performs without Sinner, and whether the team can continue its dominance in international men’s tennis.
Key Takeaways
- Jannik Sinner will miss Italy’s Davis Cup 2025 to prioritize ATP Tour Finals and preparation for the 2026 Australian Open.
- Italy will be led by Lorenzo Musetti and Flavio Cobolli in Sinner’s absence.
- Sinner has had a record-breaking 2025 season, reaching all four Grand Slam finals and winning two majors.
- The decision reflects ongoing concerns about the tennis calendar and player workload.
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