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Jannik Sinner Pulls Out of Davis Cup Finals to Prepare for 2026
Main photo credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

World No.2 and the driving force behind Italy’s last two Davis Cup triumphs, Jannik Sinner, has announced that he will not be participating in this year’s final round. In the first edition of the event moving from Malaga to Bologna, the home team and two-time defending champions will be without their premier player as they chase a historic three-peat on home soil.

Jannik Sinner Prioritizes Rest

Fresh off winning the Six Kings Slam exhibition, which earned him a $6 million paycheck for roughly 200 minutes on court, the two-time defending Australian Open champion has decided to skip the Davis Cup Finals to better prepare for the 2026 season, with a clear focus on being fully ready for the year’s first Major.

Speaking to reporters at Vienna’s media day, Sinner confirmed his decision: “I’ve won the Davis Cup twice. My team and I made this decision because the end of the season is very long, and I need an extra week off to start training earlier. The goal is to be in top shape for Australia. Over the last two years, I haven’t been at my best due to a lack of time, so we decided this was the right move.”

Over the past two years, Sinner has been the heart of Italy’s Davis Cup success, winning all nine of his matches: six singles and three doubles rubbers. The highlight came in 2023, when he saved three match points to defeat Novak Djokovic in a dramatic semifinal that propelled Italy toward their title run.

Stacked Field Set for Bologna Despite Sinner’s Absence

Despite Sinner’s withdrawal, Bologna will still feature a star-studded field led by World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz representing Spain.

Joining him are several other Top 25 players, including Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti, Jiri Lehecka, Jakub Mensik, Francisco Cerundolo, and Flavio Cobolli.

Even without the MVP of the last two editions, the inaugural Bologna finals promise to be fiercely contested. With national pride on the line and the season winding down, the world’s best will once again fight not for ranking points, but for their flags and colors.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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