“We don’t have that top 5 player but…,” Netherlands’ Davis Cup captain takes a cheeky dig at Jannik Sinner and Italy ahead of final clash
Jannik Sinner and Italy have reached the Davis Cup final and will meet the Netherlands, who advanced to the summit clash for the first time.
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Paul Haarhuis' Netherlands will locking horns with Italy which has Jannik Sinner and Matteo Berrettini (Images via Studio040, X)
Italy is through to the final of the 2024 Davis Cup and will face the Netherlands on Sunday (November 24) at the Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga. Ahead of the clash, Netherlands’ captain Paul Haarhuis, took a cheeky dig at the defending champions and team’s best player Jannik Sinner.
Netherlands became the first team to secure a berth in the final after their 2-1 win over Germany. Haarhuis, who earlier joked about poisoning the food of Italian players to stop them from playing, said he has full confidence in his team.
I’m going to be a finalist for the first time ever in the Davis Cup. Especially it’s more unique that we do it because we don’t have that top 5 player, we don’t have that top 10 player, we don’t have that top 15 player. But it’s a team effort.
Paul Haarhuis said after Netherlands’ match against Germany
In the first match of the semifinal tie between Italy and Australia, Matteo Berrettini eked out a win over Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-7 (6-8) 6-3 7-5, before Sinner wrapped up the play with a 6-3 6-4 win over Alex de Minaur. The 2024 ATP Finals champion is yet to lose a set since the second round of the Shanghai Masters and has now won 24 consecutive sets he has played on the ATP Tour.
Paul Annacone heaps praise on Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
Roger Federer‘s former head coach Paul Annacone lauded Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for filling the void created after Federer and Rafael Nadal‘s retirement. But Annacone is not yet ready to compare the young talents to the Big 3 who have won 66 Grand Slam singles titles.
Yeah, that helps, when you see two great champions come onto the stage like Alcaraz and Sinner, with the humility and integrity they have. It’s going to be fun, but let’s not compare them to the Big Three yet.
Paul Annacone said on Tennis Channel’s Inside-In podcast
Sinner (23) and Alcaraz (21) have won two and four majors respectively and also shared the four Grand Slam trophies this year. The Italian won the Australian Open and the US Open, while Alcaraz clinched the French Open and defended his Wimbledon crown.
Djokovic, the only member of the Big 3 who hasn’t yet retired, could reach just one major final, at Wimbledon as he failed to clinch a Grand Slam trophy in a season for the first time in six years.
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Gouri Das
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