Sinner criticized by local press: former captain Barazzutti speaks out

While Jannik Sinner faces a wave of criticism after withdrawing from the Davis Cup, an iconic figure in Italian tennis has spoken out. Corrado Barazzutti, former captain of the national team, defended his compatriot.

The news has been widely discussed in Italy: Jannik Sinner will not compete in the Davis Cup this year. A personal choice, but quickly turned into a debate among tennis fans and observers. For example, Nicola Pietrangeli stated that Sinner's decision was incomprehensible given the importance of the competition.

But as criticism mounts, Corrado Barazzutti, another monument of Italian tennis and former captain of the Squadra Azzurra (2001 to 2021), decided to break his silence to firmly defend the former world number one.

"Sinner has shown his commitment to the jersey more than once. If he decides to skip it this year, like many others, his choice must be respected. Personally, I never turned down a call-up. But we are talking about a completely respectable choice.

This boy has always shown his willingness to play. If this year, for personal or physical reasons, he decides to withdraw, we must accept it. He has nothing to prove," he said in an interview reported by Tennis World Italia.