Cilic defends Sinner, absent in Bologna for the Davis Cup finals: "Seasons are extremely long and difficult"

Italy, the two-time defending Davis Cup champion, defeated Austria and qualified for the semi-finals of this 2025 edition thanks to the victories of Berrettini and Cobolli. Even without Jannik Sinner, the Squadra Azzurra is holding its own for now. The absence of the world number 2 is in any case understandable in the eyes of Marin Cilic, winner of the competition in 2018 with Croatia.

By Adrien Guyot

le 20/11/2025 à 10h28

Cilic Sinner

At home, Italy hopes to achieve the treble in the Davis Cup. Winner of the last two editions, Filippo Volandri's team has in any case started the final phase of the 2025 edition with an easy victory over Austria in the quarter-finals, without Jannik Sinner, absent this year after contributing to his country's two previous triumphs in the competition. Marin Cilic, winner of the 2014 US Open and the 2018 Davis Cup against the French team, came to Sinner's defense and understands his choice to take a break with a view to next year.

"Italy won its first Davis Cup in 1976. The other two were won in the last two years with Sinner. I believe Jannik (Sinner) also announced, after last year's victory, that he might take a break from the Davis Cup the following year, which is completely understandable. Tennis seasons are extremely long and difficult, and Jannik probably wants to rest a bit next year, which is completely normal," Cilic stated in an interview with Flashscore.