Sinner withdraws from Davis Cup to fully focus on Grand Slam

Jannik Sinner has chosen to skip the 2025 Davis Cup in order to dedicate himself fully to his goal of retaining the Australian Open championship in early 2026.

After losing to Carlos Alcaraz and relinquishing the world No.1 spot at Arthur Ashe Stadium in September, Jannik Sinner immediately sought self-improvement — winning the Shanghai title and avenging his loss to Alcaraz at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia.

However, the Italian player has opted to withdraw from the national team competing at the Davis Cup in Bologna next month to focus on preparing for his Australian Open 2026 title defense.

“I have won the Davis Cup twice. My team and I reached this decision because the season has been very long, and I need an extra week of rest to start training earlier,” Sinner told Sky Sports during media day at the Vienna Open — a tournament he won in 2023.

“The goal is to be in top form when I arrive in Australia. Over the past two years, I haven’t been able to prepare thoroughly due to lack of time, so this is a sensible choice.”

According to the schedule, Sinner will compete in the ATP Finals from November 9 to 16, while the Davis Cup finals kick off just two days later. Italy’s team captain Filippo Volandri expressed understanding, calling the Davis Cup “Sinner’s home,” but affirmed that the other players will fight hard for the blue jersey.

Meanwhile, legend Nicola Pietrangeli — who led Italy to its first Davis Cup victory in 1976 — bluntly criticized Sinner’s decision as “a hard slap to Italian sport.”

Given the packed schedule, many top players nowadays prioritize fitness and personal goals over team competitions. Alcaraz withdrew from the second round of the Davis Cup in Valencia just days after winning the US Open, although he later participated in the Bologna event.

Sinner has never played in the Laver Cup, whereas Alexander Zverev is a familiar face for Team Europe and Alcaraz took part in the San Francisco edition only two weeks after securing his sixth Grand Slam. Previously, Sinner missed the Paris 2024 Olympics due to tonsillitis, while Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic contested a thrilling final.

Nonetheless, Sinner still enjoys strong support from his home fans, especially after returning to compete at the 2025 Italian Open following a three-month doping suspension.

Tournament director Paolo Lorenzi once said: “We welcome him with open arms.” Even La Gazzetta dello Sport, Italy’s second largest sports newspaper, urged him to reconsider his decision to withdraw from the Davis Cup after finishing the ATP Finals in Turin.

In the past two seasons, the Italian team has won the Davis Cup with Sinner as a key player, undefeated in both singles and doubles from the knockout stages. His remarkable comeback against Novak Djokovic in 2023, saving match points from 0-40 and clinching victory, became a milestone that boosted Sinner’s confidence facing tennis legends.

However, at present, Sinner is eager to regain his standing in the rivalry with Alcaraz. He has lost 7 of their last 8 encounters and acknowledges the need for change to improve. His recent Six Kings Slam title in Riyadh demonstrated clear progress in his serving and agility on court.