Workers’ Union Secretary Tells Jannik Sinner to Pay Taxes If He’s “Proud to be Italian”

Jannik Sinner withdrew from the Davis Cup Finals, which is scheduled to start on November 18.

Workers’ Union Secretary Tells Jannik Sinner to Pay Taxes If He’s “Proud to be Italian”

Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

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Amid anti-Italian allegations, Jannik Sinner declared that he is “proud” to be an Italian and “happy” to be born in Italy and not in Austria. Sinner was born in Innichen, in South Tyrol, an autonomous region in Italy where the majority of the people speak German. Sinner grew up speaking German.

South Tyrol is situated in the northernmost part of Italy and borders Austria’s Tyrol. Due to its location and the region’s history, many from the Italian tennis community are questioning how truly Italian he is in the aftermath of his announcement of Davis Cup Finals withdrawal.

He said he had already made the decision to skip the Davis Cup Finals before the season. Sinner led Italy to two Davis Cup titles in 2023 and 2024, winning every match he played.

At present, the four-time Grand Slam champion lives in Monte Carlo, Monaco. Because he moved to The Principality, the secretary of the Italian-based workers’ union FIOM-CGIL, Barbara Tibaldi, said Sinner should prove his loyalty to his country by moving back to Italy and paying taxes. Tibaldi told Realpolitik:

Sinner is the product of a culture that was built in this country due to the irresponsibility of many families and entrepreneurs. So if you’re proud to be Italian, you contribute to the good of your country. And you’re proud to pay taxes in Italy.

Sinner is back in Italy. He is in Turin for the ATP Finals, which is scheduled to start on November 9. Last year, the 24-year-old defeated Taylor Fritz in the final.

The World No.1 ranking is on the line. Sinner has dropped to the second spot in the live rankings because he has 1,500 points to defend. After losing the No.1 ranking to Carlos Alcaraz following the US Open final, Sinner reclaimed his spot by winning back-to-back titles at the Vienna Open and the Paris Masters.

Jimmy Connors predicts a bright future for Felix Auger-Aliassime after his Paris Masters defeat to Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner won the Paris Masters by defeating Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets. It was the Canadian ace whom Sinner knocked out in the semifinals of the US Open. Due to his consistent performance in the past few months, Jimmy Connors predicted a bright future for the 25-year-old.

Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jannik Sinner (2)
Felix Auger-Aliassime, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ)

He has continued and is keeping his game on a high level, beating players and getting to the semis and the finals and putting pressure on the top guys also, which is good to see. Maybe he is that next guy. Maybe he is the guy who is going to sneak in there and get a little confidence. All he has to do is beat either one of them one time, and then he is going to say I can do this.

Jimmy Connors said on his Advantage Connors podcast

The win helped Sinner take a 3-2 head-to-head lead over him. Auger-Aliassime was scheduled to play the Metz Open, an ATP 250 event, and his win would have ensured him a spot in the ATP Finals. But he withdrew from the tournament.

The first edition of the ATP 250 Hellenic Championship is also underway, in Athens, and there, Lorenzo Musetti is playing. If Musetti clinches the title, he will become the eighth player to qualify for the year-end championships. Auger-Aliassime qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time in 2022 and failed to progress beyond the round-robin stage. Musetti has never played the event.

Sinner qualified for the first time in 2021, lost in the championship clash against the tournament’s most successful player, Novak Djokovic, in 2023, and won the title last year. The 24-year-old has so far clinched five titles this season.

Also read: Jannik Sinner Reflects on the Miracle He Experienced at the 2025 Wimbledon Championships