"He’ll want to do everything he can to be there" - Jannik Sinner tipped to be competing in big tournament at end of 2026

Jannik Sinner currently remains out of tennis due to a knee problem picked up after Wimbledon. He is soon to return to the Asian swing with a lot of tennis still to be played ahead of the Davis Cup Finals in November. Sinner rejected the chance to play for his country on home soil, but Italy's captain, Filippo Volandri, has offered the latest update over the World No.1 possible involvement.

Sinner's withdrawal did not go down well last year among many as he managed his workload, prioritising such competitions as the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals, both in which he would win. He would watch on with glee as Italy secured a third consecutive Davis Cup title, and that was without their biggest talents.

It was not only Sinner who did not show up, but Lorenzo Musetti who had to pull out. Despite that, Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini won all their matches without the Italian doubles team even needing them. They defeated Spain in the final and won the title, continuing their dominance.

If Sinner is to reverse his stance compared to last year and decides to turn up, Italy could well be on their way to a fourth triumph in a row. In front of a home crowd, Sinner is virtually unbeatable to most with his consistency on another level at the pinnacle of the sport, with very few off days being endured.

The tournament will take place from November 23-29, right after the ATP Finals, which Sinner has already qualified for. That could sway his decision to feature, but it also depends on how he recovers from his latest injury.

The 25-year-old is supposed to compete at the China Open ahead of the Shanghai Masters, but he also may decide to skip the Asian swing entirely as he looks to recover fully for the ATP Finals. The Davis Cup then could be on his radar, with him being fresher than before.

Volandri updated Sinner's progress while stating his chances of featuring at the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna. “Jannik [Sinner] is following his recovery program to return to peak performance," he said, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport. "He’s been training for about ten days now, gradually increasing the loads he’s undergoing, and when he returns, he’ll be competitive straight away. I’m sure that if he’s confident he’s back in top form on the eve of the Davis Cup, he’ll want to do everything he can to be there.”

Retaining their title will be made easier with Sinner on the team, but it could still be very tough. Alexander Zverev will most likely be heading the Germans, with a certain Carlos Alcaraz also in line to feature for Spain.

The seven-time Grand Slam champion missed last year's Finals due to injury but closely followed from his home, desperate to be helping out. With Rafael Jodar also in the ranks, Spain have a very dangerous team under David Ferrer.

There was no doubt in Volandri's mind that Alcaraz would be competing in Bologna. “Aside from the fact that [David] Ferrer can count on other excellent players, we’ll see how Carlos [Alcaraz] performs over the next two months. Certainly, if he’s well, he’ll definitely be in Bologna: he was supposed to play last year, but he got injured just before the match. And he’s often said that the Davis Cup is a major career goal."

As previously mentioned, Zverev will also be a threat. The two-time Grand Slam champion has been labelled by Alcaraz as 'the best player in the world right now,' and for good reason. His commitment to the team is clear, travelling to their qualifier against Croatia just days after winning the US Open.

“[Alexander] Zverev and [Ben] Shelton made a trans-oceanic journey the day after their US Open final to play in the playoff," Volandri continued. "This gives great value to the competition. And ultimately, the Davis Cup may change its essence, but in its uniqueness it retains an unparalleled charm,” he said.

“He still prefers the old format with home-and-away matches, but he knows he can seize a great opportunity. I spoke to him a bit at last year’s Finals, and he told me that the team’s atmosphere is very positive now and that everyone knows they need to take advantage of this window of opportunity. It’s a group of players in their thirties and older who feel they don’t have much of a chance in the near future.”