Carlos Alcaraz Backs Jannik Sinner’s Decision to Skip Davis Cup After the ATP Finals
Carlos Alcaraz will open his account at the ATP Finals against Alex de Minaur in Turin.
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Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Carlos Alcaraz 4K, Jannik Sinner HQ)
Carlos Alcaraz has defended Jannik Sinner’s decision to withdraw from the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna. The World No.1 has come under heavy criticism for deciding not to represent his country at the tournament but rather take a rest and take part in pre-season while planning to for the 2026 season.
Sinner was one of the top players in the men’s circuit to announce his withdrawal from the Davis Cup Finals. The 24-year-old has been a regular member of the Italian team at the tournament final stages in the past two years. In fact, he helped his country win its first Davis Cup title in over 45 years in 2023.
Also, last season, he helped the Italians defend their title after defeating the Netherlands in the final in Malaga. His decision to withdraw from the tournament comes after he featured in several tournaments in recent months. He won the China Open after beating Learner Tien in straight sets in the final.
He then went on to claim his second ATP 500 title of the season after overcoming Alexander Zverev in three sets. Earlier this month, he produced an exceptional performance to win his only Masters 1000 title of the season in Paris, beating Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the final. Sinner has been criticized by Italian legend Nicola Pietrangeli for deciding to skip the Davis Cup Finals.
Alcaraz has now come to his arch-rival’s defense during the ATP Finals press conference in Turin. The 22-year-old highlighted that the 2025 season has been a difficult one for every player on tour. He then added that Sinner has helped his country twice to win the Davis Cup, so his decision has to be understood by everyone:
The schedule is very tough and difficult. Even more so in Jannik’s case, since he reaches the final rounds in every tournament. He’s already won the Davis Cup the last two years representing his country, playing both singles and doubles. I think no one has given more sweat and effort for their country than him. It’s true that this is the first year it’s being held in Italy, and people wanted to see him at home, but everyone has to make their own decisions.
Sinner and Alcaraz are currently at the ATP Finals in Turin ahead of the start of the event on Sunday (November 9). The former is the defending champion of the tournament, while the latter has struggled at the event. Sinner has an amazing record in indoor hard court tournaments and he’s the favorite to win the title.
Carlos Alcaraz admits that finishing the year as World No.1 remains an important goal
Carlos Alcaraz’s stay at the top of the ATP rankings ended after Jannik Sinner claimed the Paris Masters. The Spaniard crashed out in the second round of the ATP 1000 tournament. However, He will be back at World No.1 on Monday (November 10) after the Live Race To Turin rankings drop.
Nonetheless, he has to win two matches at the tournament to secure his place at the top of the rankings. If he fails to do so and Sinner defends the title, he will end the year in No.2. During the aforementioned press conference, he revealed that ending the year as No.1 is a very important goal for him:
Ending as number one, it’s been an important goal for me since half of the year, to be honest, because at the beginning I didn’t think about it, to be honest. Half of the year, it was a good and important goal for me. So I’m just really motivated to, as I said, to perform well, to play my best tennis.
Alcaraz will open his ATP Finals campaign against Alex de Minaur. He has never lost against the Australian star and currently holds a 4-0 lead in their head-to-head record. After the match, he will face Taylor Fritz in the second round robin tie in Jimmy Connors Group.
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