Adriano Panatta lashes out on ‘businessman’ Jannik Sinner for giving up on Olympics and Davis Cup, questions his commitment by comparing him to MotoGP rider Francesco Bagnaia

Jannik Sinner pulled out of Davis Cup saying he did not get enough time to recover after the 2023 US Open.

Adriano Panatta lashes out on ‘businessman’ Jannik Sinner for giving up on Olympics and Davis Cup, questions his commitment by comparing him to MotoGP rider Francesco Bagnaia

Jannik Sinner, Adriano Panatta (Images via CNN, Getty)

Adriano Panatta minced no words as the 1976 French Open winner launched a scathing attack on Italian tennis ace Jannik Sinner. Panatta criticized Sinner for pulling out of Davis Cup while questioning the youngster’s commitment and also labeling him a businessman. Panatta also cited MotoGP rider Francesco Bagnaia’s example while talking about commitment. 

Notably, a week ago, Sinner announced that he wouldn’t be taking part in the tournament as he did not get enough time to recover between the tournaments. The Italian took part in the 2023 US Open wherein he progressed to the pre-quarterfinals before losing to Alexander Zverev in a marathon five-set match. 

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Sinner was visibly struggling with his left leg and had to receive treatment on the court multiple times during the game. But Adriano Panatta feels that it was just an excuse as players these days are focused only on profits and have no feelings whatsoever. He then compared Sinner with Bagnaia who competed a week after getting involved in a horrific crash. 

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“Today, tennis players are businesses and, as such, they only think about profit, especially those around them, forgetting history and feelings. He had already given up on the Olympic Games, today he says no to the Davis Cup. Jannik is tired? Bagnaia (the Italian Moto GP rider who suffered an accident last weekend, editor’s note), three days after the accident, was already on the bike…,” said Panatta (via We Love Tennis). 

Also Read: Roger Federer fulfills his promise to Rafael Nadal after sending his twin boys to the camp at the Spaniard’s Academy

Adriano Panatta fails to fathom Fabio Fognini’s non-selection

Fabio Fognini
Fabio Fognini (Image via Tennis world USA)

The former tennis ace also talked about Fabio Fognini’s non-selection and said that it was hard for him to fathom his exclusion. Adriano Panatta believes that Fognini has still got something to contribute and could have been valuable considering he is the best doubles player in the country. 

“I’m with Fognini. Fabio is one of the greatest talents in our tennis and he can still give a lot. Moreover, he is still the best doubles player. I don’t know why Volandri excluded him, but you should never forget everything a player has done for his country,” said Panatta. 

Notably, Team Italy has Lorenzo Musetti, Lorenzo Sonego, Simone Bolelli, Andrea Vavassori, and Matteo Arnaldi who played Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round at the 2023 US Open. Filippo Volandri has been named the captain.

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