Jannik Sinner: The Usual Controversy Erupts—Harsh Words Aimed at Him
There are now just over two months to go until the Davis Cup, scheduled to take place in Bologna from November 24 to 29, immediately following the ATP Finals in Turin. Italy, the winner of the last three editions and already assured of a spot in the quarterfinals, is waiting to find out who its opponent will be. However, the team that Filippo Volandri will bring to Bologna is still to be determined, partly due to the proximity to the Finals. Meanwhile, the usual speculation has already begun regarding the possible participation of Jannik Sinner, who opted out of the competition in 2025. “As if he’d participate—he didn’t do it last year when he was in good shape; imagine in 2026,” more than one critical voice on social media has pointed out.
In the meantime, the other matches will determine the draw. Germany will be able to count on Zverev, fresh off his US Open triumph, in their match against Croatia, while Shelton’s United States will face the Czech Republic. Spain, on the other hand, will face Chile without Carlos Alcaraz, relying instead on young Rafa Jodar. The schedule will be rounded out by the matches between Great Britain and Ecuador, Austria and Belgium, South Korea and India, and Canada and France.
As for Sinner, the main issue remains his physical condition. The South Tyrolean, who has been sidelined since July 13 following his Wimbledon triumph due to a knee injury, is working to return to the court as early as the China Open in Beijing, scheduled for September 30 through October 6. His staff is proceeding with the utmost caution, avoiding rushing the recovery process to prevent dangerous setbacks. He has already entered the Chinese tournament, but his actual participation has yet to be officially confirmed.
The problem is that, looking at the calendar, the Davis Cup would take place in late November—a potentially delicate time for the South Tyrolean’s knee. After Beijing, Sinner’s schedule includes the Shanghai Masters 1000, the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia, the ATP 500 in Vienna, and the ATP Finals in Turin: a packed schedule that could once again influence the final decision regarding Bologna. This is a scenario we’ve already seen last year, when his withdrawal sparked considerable controversy.
Zverev’s title in New York has ignited debate among industry insiders. While Fabio Fognini downplayed the German’s victory by pointing out Sinner’s absence and the challenges faced by Alcaraz, who was returning after a four-and-a-half-month layoff due to a wrist injury, Boris Becker staunchly defended his compatriot: “I find certain comments unacceptable. What fault does Sascha have if Sinner got injured and if Alcaraz was sidelined for four months? He can only beat the opponents on the other side of the net.” Toni Nadal, for his part, pointed out that this second Grand Slam title will make Zverev an opponent “even closer” to Alcaraz and Sinner, comparing the psychological impact of the victory to what happened to Wawrinka after the 2014 Australian Open.
