ROME — Jannik Sinner’s choice to not play for host Italy within the Davis Cup Remaining 8 is being met with a way of abandonment in his house nation — the place he was fiercely defended throughout his doping case earlier this yr.
The second-ranked Sinner, who led Italy to tennis’ greatest crew trophy the previous two years, mentioned that he prefers to arrange for subsequent season as a substitute of serving to the Azzurri goal for one more title in Bologna subsequent month.
“It wasn’t a simple choice, however after Turin (the place the ATP Finals are performed the week earlier than the Davis Cup), the aim is to start out off on the precise foot in Australia,” Sinner mentioned, referring to the Australian Open, the place he’s the two-time defending champion.
“It doesn’t look like it, however per week of preparation in that interval could make a distinction,” Sinner informed Sky Italia on Monday from Vienna, the place he’s taking part in this week. “We already gained the Davis Cup in 2023 and 2024 and this time we determined like this with my crew.”
The front-page headline in Tuesday’s Gazzetta dello Sport translated to: “Sinner, suppose it over once more.”
An accompanying editorial within the Gazzetta took Sinner to job for saying he already gained the Davis Cup twice, mentioning how he additionally defended his title over the weekend in a profitable exhibition in Saudi Arabia.
“So that you’re not going to return to Riyadh for one more $6 million? For those who win one other Wimbledon, you gained’t go to London anymore? Pasta, espresso … Each 5 minutes you promote an Italian product. Do it with tennis, too,” the Gazzetta editorial mentioned, referring to the a number of Italian manufacturers that Sinner represents in TV and different commercials.
Added 92-year-old Nicola Pietrangeli, a two-time French Open winner who was Italy’s most profitable participant till Sinner got here alongside: “It’s an enormous slap within the face to the Italian sports activities world.”
Italians extensively defended Sinner when he was hit with a three-month doping ban in February, whereas different high gamers insinuated that he acquired preferential remedy due to his excessive standing and the time-frame of the ban meant that he did not miss any Grand Slam tournaments.
On the entrance web page of Corriere della Sera, one other vital editorial translated Sinner’s first identify to “Gianni,” harkening again to the times practically a century in the past when Germanic cities have been compelled to undertake Italian names below fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
Sinner has confronted discrimination
It is not the primary time that Sinner has been criticized for not representing Italy. It occurred when he did not play Davis Cup in 2023 and it occurred when he did not play within the Paris Olympics a yr later.
Sinner grew up within the German-speaking autonomous province of Alto Adige in northern Italy and has additionally confronted an underlying sentiment that he is not totally Italian.
Simply final month, an Italian rapper was accused of inciting racial hatred for publishing musical lyrics saying that Sinner speaks with “Adolf Hitler’s accent.” Fedez, the rapper, later apologized.
Adriano Panatta, who led Italy to its solely different Davis Cup triumph in 1976, defended Sinner’s selection, noting how the crew competitors isn’t thought-about as necessary because it was in his taking part in days.
“As we speak’s tennis requires gamers to have full devotion. The gamers are like CEOs of corporations that carry their names,” Panatta wrote in Corriere della Sera. “Sinner has gained the Davis Cup twice and now he wants a break to gear up for his most important targets: successful Slams, taking part in as much as (Carlos) Alcaraz’s stage, reclaiming No. 1. These are his priorities.”
Paolo Bertolucci, who additionally performed on the 1976 crew and is now a TV commentator, agreed with Panatta.
“I don’t see something fallacious with the choice,” Bertolucci informed the Gazzetta. “Tennis has modified. As we speak what counts are the 4 Slams after which the ATP Finals. The remainder is facet stuff.”
