India, Oct. 21 -- Jannik Sinner has faced criticism back home in Italy after announcing that he won't play for the national team in the Davis Cup Final 8. The World No. 2, who led Italy to Davis Cup titles in 2023 and 2024, said he wants to focus on preparations for the next season instead of helping Italy defend the crown in Bologna next month.

It was long speculated that Sinner would not play in the Davis Cup, but it became official when the Italian Tennis Federation announced the five-man line-up on Monday, and the 24-year-old was not part of it. Lorenzo Musetti, Flavio Cobolli, Matteo Berrettini, Simone Bolelli, and Andrea Vavassori ere included for the Davis Cup, with Filippo Volandri as the skipper.

The decision to skip the Davis ...