The tension was palpable in Italian tennis circles. After his sudden withdrawal from the Davis Cup, fans and pundits alike erupted in criticism of Jannik Sinner. For example, the Italian tennis legend, Nicola Pietrangeli, called his decision “a real slap in the face for Italian sport.” According to him, the goal for every athlete should be to wear the blue jersey and represent their nation. Following that, there were even calls to strip the rising star of his national honors. Amid all these controversies, Italy’s Davis Cup captain, Filippo Volandri, has stepped forward, offering his own perspective on this debatable topic.

Talking about some controversial reactions to this incident, The Codacons—Coordinator of Association for the Defense of the Environment and the Rights of Users and Consumers—from the European country have demanded sanctions for Sinner. “Following Jannik Sinner’s rejection of the Davis Cup, Codacons is calling for the withdrawal of all official awards and honors awarded to the tennis player. Sinner’s decision to forgo playing in the Davis Cup represents a slap in the face to Italy, to Italians, and to millions of passionate tennis fans, the association explains,” they said.

But not only them, renowned Italian journalist Bruno Vespa has also criticized Sinner, saying, “Why should an Italian root for Sinner? He speaks German (right, it’s his language), lives in Monte Carlo, doesn’t play for the national team in the Davis Cup to take an extra week of vacation. Kudos to Alcaraz, who takes the field for his Spain.” Amid all this buzz, Volandri recently shared his thoughts about Sinner’s withdrawal. During an interview with La Gazetta dello Sport, he said, “Of course, every captain would like to have a full squad, with their strongest player. But precisely because I experienced certain situations as a player, I try to normalize the situation. It’s a decision that, as President [Angelo] Binaghi also said, hurts, but it’s neither the first nor the last time it happens. It happens to all champions.”

Further on, he gave examples of Alexander Zverev, Roger Federer, and even Rafael Nadal and spoke about how even they opted not to take part in the Davis Cup for years. This year, Jannik Sinner has played around 51 matches and won three titles (including two Grand Slam triumphs). Commenting on Sinner’s decision to withdraw from the event this year, despite helping his team to title triumphs in the previous two editions, Filippo Volandri said, “That week is needed to truly reset and best prepare for 2026, when we’ll have the Finals at home again. The commitment to the national team is important, but it must be managed with balance.”

Just like Volandri, another Italian tennis legend, also shared similar support for Jannik Sinner. As per Paolo Bertolucci, he would have been completely surprised if Sinner had played in the Davis Cup. “He’s (Sinner) a freelancer, not tied to a club or a federation. He became a player at his own expense. People think about the blue jersey, but in tennis it’s not like that. It doesn’t work like in football. He’s helped us win it twice; that’s enough. And then: ‘Oh, but this time we’re playing in Italy.’ Okay, that’s three. ‘Well, next year you won three; you can win four. And then, why doesn’t he help us win a fifth?’ Guys, it’s not like that. At that point, it becomes infinite.”

Even Italian Tennis Federation president Angelo Binaghi said this is a bit “painful,” but they completely understand and respect Sinner’s decision. Currently, Sinner is in Vienna, and he has gotten off to a stellar start in the competition, but amid all this, there is some news that recently broke out, and guess what? This could well raise the eyebrows of several tennis bigwigs once again!

Jannik Sinner's dominating start at the 2025 Vienna Open

The Vienna Open witnessed a masterclass from Sinner as the Italian sensation wasted no time in sending Daniel Altmaier packing. In a display of precision and dominance, the Italian star wrapped up the contest in just 58 minutes, leaving the crowd in awe of his relentless form. He defeated the German by 6-0, 6-2.

From the first serve, Jannik Sinner dictated the pace, mixing powerful groundstrokes with clever court positioning. Altmaier struggled to find answers, often forced into defensive play and unforced errors, unable to match the Italian’s intensity. Every point seemed calculated, every move purposeful—a textbook display of elite tennis. For Sinner, this victory is more than just a step forward in the Vienna Open. It’s a statement. Amid whispers about rankings and potential title ambitions, he showcased why he remains a serious contender in the men’s tour.

After this dominating performance, Sinner said, “I feel like in the first set everything was working very well. On indoor courts, you have to be very careful. If your opponent starts to serve well, it’s very difficult to break. But I’m very happy about today’s performance, starting the tournament in a very positive way, not only gamewise but also feeling-wise.”

With this win, he has now taken his winning streak to 17 matches on indoor hard courts. Quite impressive, isn’t it?

But amid all these, news recently broke out about Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz’s participation in an exhibition match in Seoul, South Korea, in January 2026. These two superstars teased the announcement on their IG stories with the message, “See you in Korea.” As per the Chosun Daily newspaper, Alcaraz and Sinner will compete in the Hyundai Card Super Match, which is set to take place on January 10 at the Incheon Inspire Arena.

This will surely be a good warm-up stage ahead of the 2026 AO, but at the same time, several tennis bigwigs might yet again raise their eyebrows after seeing them taking part in yet another exhibition event. What are your thoughts on this, though? Share with us in the comment section.

Written by

Sayantan Roy

Sayantan Roy is a seasoned tennis journalist at EssentiallySports. He brings a deep tactical understanding to his coverage, breaking down head-to-head records, match dynamics, and on-court strategies with precision. For more than two years, Sayantan has been a key member of the Live Events desk, delivering real-time insights and data-backed predictions for the platform’s Matchday Preview section. His analytical approach has sparked editorial debates and drawn recognition from respected tennis voices, including commentator and analyst Olly_Tennis. Combining his experience in writing with a passion for insightful sports journalism, Sayantan’s work serves as a trusted reference point for tennis fans around the world.

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Shrabana Sengupta