Matteo Berrettini Hopes to Step Up for Italy’s Davis Cup Mission in Jannik Sinner’s Absence
Matteo Berrettini, Flavio Cobolli, and Lorenzo Sonego will lead the line for Italy in Jannik Sinner's absence at the Davis Cup Finals.
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Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner (via X/Jannik files)
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Matteo Berrettini has admitted that he hopes to step up for the Italian team in their bid to win the Davis Cup for the third consecutive year despite the absence of their star player Jannik Sinner. Sinner withdrew from the team ahead of the Paris Masters, as he aims to have a good off-season rather than playing at the Davis Cup.
Berrettini and Sinner were part of the Italian team that conquered the Davis Cup in 2023 and 2024. In fact, in 2023, they made history by claiming Italy’s first Davis Cup in over 45 years. Italy has relied on the duo heavily at the prestigious tournament, especially in doubles matches. However, Sinner will not be part of the team this year in Bologna.
Also, Lorenzo Musetti, who is currently World No.9 is a heavy doubt for the Italian team. Although he was initially called up to the team, he revealed at the ATP Finals that he’s yet to decide whether to join the team or not, considering the number of tournaments he had featured in the last few months.
Musetti crashed out of the ATP Finals on Thursday (November 13) after losing to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets. He ended his run at the tournament with just one win, which came against Alex de Minaur. Sinner, meanwhile has booked his place in the semi-finals of the season-ending event and will hope to top the Bjorn Borg group.
Italy will have to rely heavily on Flavio Cobolli and Berrettini if Musetti doesn’t play at the event. Lorenzo Sonego will also be involved. During an interview with Ubitennis, Berrettini explained that despite Sinner’s absence, the team can still achieve great feats at the tournament. The former World No.6 pointed out that the team has a lot of skillful players:
The Davis Cup has always been good for me, and I think I can give the right determination to the group. Jannik isn’t here, Musetti is in doubt, but the beautiful thing is that even without the two current top players, there’s no anxiety. We are all aware that we can do it. We are all eager, and we are in a good moment—Bolelli and Vavassori are playing great, Cobolli had the best season of his career, and Sonego, if he comes, has shown he is doing very well.
Nonetheless, Berrettini hasn’t been at his best this season as he has struggled with injuries. He was out for two months following an injury he sustained at the Rome Masters against Casper Ruud. He returned to Wimbledon but suffered a first-round exit, which followed an almost three-month sideline from the court until the Asian swing.
Matteo Berrettini praises Jannik Sinner for his impressive form this season
Jannik Sinner has been Italy’s biggest hope in men’s tennis and gas continued to prove that on the court. Despite going through some rough patches with suspension earlier this season, he bounced back, winning Wimbledon and the Paris Masters. He has won five titles this season, including two Grand Slams.
During the aforementioned interview, Matteo Berrettini didn’t miss the opportunity to praise Sinner, with whom he has often referred to his great relationship off the court. Berrettini revealed that his fellow countryman has always been an inspiration for him to remain ambitious on the court:
If I think about what he [Sinner] has done in the last two years, it’s impressive. Everyone has their own world, their own rhythms, their own goals. I think I still have something to give to this sport, there are satisfactions I want to achieve. But without risking my body and my mind, which have suffered enough in recent years.
Sinner missed out on finishing the year as World No.1 as his arch-rival cemented his place at the top of the ATP rankings after winning three consecutive matches at the season-ending event in Turin. However, Sinner is destined to finish the season as World No.1 with over 3,000 points lead over Alexander Zverev in No.3.
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