Barazzutti: doubts about Italtennis and Davis Cup

Former Italian national team captain: “I would have preferred Sonego in doubles.”

Former Italian national Davis Cup team captain Corrado Barazzutti in an interview with Corriere dello Sport returned to the Azzurri’s semifinal loss to Canada, which he said was a missed opportunity: “Going to look at the glass half empty, it is legitimate to have a little regret. Simone Bolelli was taken out of action at the most beautiful moment by a calf injury, but some of the competitors, such as Italy itself, could not count on all the personnel, and Russia was excluded from the competition because of the well-known events. A window opened in which Italy could sneak in and perhaps take advantage of the opportunity.”

In particular, Barazzutti was skeptical about the decision to employ Berrettini: “I don’t know if Berrettini was the best choice to replace Bolelli. Matteo was generous and it is clear that he did everything he could despite not being at the top. With Fognini I would have seen better a healthy and confident player like Sonego, although then no one can know how it would have turned out.”

On the other hand, Barazzutti, who nevertheless foresees an important future for Italy (“we will be protagonists in the coming years”) expressed his doubts about the Davis format: “I don’t like it. It’s like taking a Slam and changing it into a 10-day tournament. Davis Cup used to be considered the fifth slam, whereas now they have downsized it. Now it is best of three sets, there are three matches, doubles counts more. When we won it in 1976 against Chile it was a gigantic feat in a difficult context.”