“I am proud to be Italian”: Jannik Sinner addresses Davis Cup absence

World No. 2 Jannik Sinner remains deep in his off-season work, preparing for the start of the year in the Australian swing, where he will begin the defence of the first major of the season at the Australian Open.

The four-time Grand Slam champion decided not to participate in this year’s Davis Cup Finals, where Italy retained the title for the third consecutive year—this time without major stars Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti. In their absence, Flavio Cobolli and Matteo Berrettini stepped up to deliver a third straight trophy for the Italian team.

There was significant criticism directed at Sinner following the announcement of his withdrawal from the Davis Cup Finals. The World No. 2 explained that after competing at the ATP Finals, his priority was to take the necessary recovery time and rest ahead of the 2026 season. Sinner’s absence in Bologna—where Italy were the host nation—drew several critical reactions, including from Italian legend Nicola Pietrangeli.

However, in a recent interview with Sky Sports Italy, Sinner addressed both his absence and his pride in representing Italy: “I am proud to be Italian. When we face tough times, you know you're not playing just for yourself; you're playing for a whole nation, a people who support you. In Italy, there is enormous passion for sports, not just for tennis but also for Formula 1 and soccer. One should be proud of this and keep moving forward.”

Sinner has learned to insulate himself from external noise by relying heavily on a close-knit inner circle. The off-season offers a rare opportunity to reconnect with these figures away from cameras and the relentless travel schedule of the ATP Tour. For Sinner, technical feedback on his serve or forehand matters, but it is secondary to the honesty required to keep a multimillionaire athlete grounded.

“It's crucial to always have the support of the entire team: honest people who tell you when you're doing well, but also when things are not going so well or when changes are needed. I'm still young, and it matters a lot to me to surround myself with individuals of strong human values, such as those I work with and my family.”

The Italian understands that one of the major challenges of 2026 will be asserting himself in his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz—his greatest opponent so far, who has already denied him several major titles, including Roland Garros and the US Open. At 24, Sinner sees rivalry not as a distraction, but as a structural necessity for progress.

“Rivalries are essential,” Sinner said. “Opponents you lose to or face more frequently become the most important reference points for improvement and continued work, to defeat them or to find ways to constantly do something different. The more rivalries there are, the more fun and appealing it is for spectators to follow the sport.”

As he allows himself a brief period of relaxation, Sinner remains fully aware of the challenge ahead. The gap between World No. 1 and No. 2 is often razor-thin, dictated by consistency and physical durability. He admits that maintaining his current position will require relentless effort, stressing that stagnation is the fastest path backward.

“The level is always higher, and improvement is essential. If you want to maintain the same ranking next year or improve it, you have to keep working and push yourself to the maximum.”