Panatta tackles Sinner: "Today, players are soldiers"

Did Jannik Sinner make the right decision by saying no to the Davis Cup? Adriano Panatta, a former Italian tennis star, gives his answer.

Invited by La Gazzetta dello Sport to comment on Sinner's withdrawal from the November edition in Bologna, just days after the ATP Finals in Turin, the former Italian number one stated:

"I would never have given up such an opportunity, especially in Italy. Today, players are soldiers. Totally dedicated to their mission. In my day, one more or one less week of rest didn't make much difference. The Davis Cup was at the center of our lives. Today, that's no longer the case."

But Panatta doesn't entirely blame Sinner. He also points the finger at a problematic international schedule that places the Davis Cup final too close to the ATP Finals. A strategic mistake in his view:

"Some decisions should be better thought out, to avoid these kinds of difficult situations to manage."