The decision of world number two Janik Siner not to play for the Italian national team in the Davis Cup has disappointed many in his homeland, where he was fiercely defended during his doping case.
Siner has led Italy to two Davis Cup titles in the last two years, but has now decided to miss the final tournament in Bologna in order to better prepare for next season.
"It wasn't an easy decision, but after Turin (the final ATP tournament played a week before the Davis Cup), the goal is to start well in Australia. It doesn't look like it, but a week of preparation during that period can make a difference," Siner said on Monday in Vienna, where he plays in the tournament this week.
"We won the Davis Cup in 2023 and 2024 and this time I made this decision with my team," he added.
This decision was not well received by the Italian public, so Gazeta dello Sport published the message on its front page: "Sinner, think again."
In an accompanying editorial, Gazeta criticized Siner for stating that he had already won the Davis Cup twice, noting that he had defended his title at a lucrative exhibition tournament in Saudi Arabia over the weekend.
"So you won't go back to Riyadh for another six million dollars? If you win another Wimbledon, you won't go to London anymore? Pasta, coffee... Every five minutes you promote an Italian product. Do it with tennis too," Gazeta stated, referring to the numerous Italian products that Siner advertises.
One of Italy's best tennis players, the famous 92-year-old Nicola Pietrandelli, said: "It's a big slap in the face to the Italian sports world."
The Italians fiercely defended Siner in February when he was suspended for three months for doping, while other top tennis players insinuated that he received preferential treatment due to his status and that the duration of the suspension was determined so that he would not miss a single Grand Slam tournament.
This is not the first time Siner has been criticized for not playing for the national team, after he decided to skip participating in the Olympic tournament in Paris last summer.
However, there are those who have supported Siner, including former tennis player Adriano Panatta, who led Italy to triumph in the Davis Cup in 1976.
"Today's tennis demands total dedication from players. Players are like CEOs of companies with their names on them. Siner has won the Davis Cup twice and now he needs a break to prepare for his main goals: winning Grand Slams, playing at the level of Carlos Alcaraz and returning to number one in the ATP rankings. These are the priorities," Panatta told Corriere della Sera.
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