ROME-. The Italian Jannik Sinnerfinalist of the US Openwill be given a rest after Sunday’s final against American Taylor Fritz and will not compete in the group stage of the Finals Davis Cup next week in Bologna, Italy, captain Filippo Volandri announced on Saturday.
“As for Jannik, who told us he will be available for the final stages of the competition in Bologna, in agreement with the Federation leaders and their staff, we decided to exempt him from his call-up and allow him to fully recover,” Volandri confirmed in a team statement.
The world number one was cleared of a doping case less than a week before the start of the US Open. On Friday he beat Jack Draper in the semi-final of the last Grand Slam of the year.
Defending Davis Cup champion Italy will have Matteo Berrettini, Matteo Arnaldi, Flavio Cobolli, Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli in their place. Olympic bronze medallist Lorenzo Musetti also needs rest and has not been asked to play, Volandri added.
Sinner led Italy to last year’s title with wins over Novak Djokovic in doubles and in the singles semi-final against Serbia before securing the decisive point in the final against Australia by beating Alex de Minaur.
Italy kick off their campaign on Wednesday against Brazil before facing Belgium on Friday and the Netherlands on Sunday.
The group stage takes place simultaneously in Valencia, Spain; Zhuhai, China; and Manchester, UK.
The top two teams from each group will advance to an eight-team final to be held November 19-24 in Malaga, Spain.
Sinner was heavily criticised last year when he bowed out of the group stage, but the comments were quickly replaced by praise as he led Italy to the title and claimed his first Grand Slam title in January in Australia.
