Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz sent heartfelt encouragement to Spain’s Davis Cup squad after their loss to Italy in the finals. Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner unintentionally reunited mid-air as the pair boarded the same flight to the Maldives to kick off their offseason break. Elsewhere, Martina Navratilova sparked discussion online after questioning the circumstances surrounding the gunmen involved in the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump, an attack that also resulted in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.

In early November, Sky Sports Italy did an interview with Sinner. Here, the four-time Major champion and former No. 1 was asked about his thoughts on the backlash that came his way, particularly from the Italian media, after he withdrew from this year’s Davis Cup Finals. In response, the 24-year-old bemoaned how the media focused on his absence instead of valuing the other Italian Davis Cup players, saying:

“We have an incredible team even without me, and no one’s talking about it. We have to do without the world number 26, who right now is (Luciano) Darderi. We can afford not to call the world number 26 in the Davis Cup because we have (Flavio) Cobolli, (Lorenzo) Musetti, and so many others: we have an incredible doubles team! We can win even like that, we still have Berrettini, so the chances of winning the Davis Cup are high.”

Speaking on the back of his country’s hat-trick of Davis Cup titles, Angelo Binaghi, the President of the Italian Tennis and Padel Federation, said Jannik Sinner was right in his assessment of the team in terms of going the distance without him. Binaghi emphasized that while Sinner is an important pillar of Italian tennis, the squad has reached a level where success does not depend on a single player.He praised the depth, maturity, and competitive spirit shown by the roster throughout the finals, noting:

At the 2025 Davis Cup Finals, Italy registered a clean sweep of victories starting from the quarterfinals, as they took out Austria, Belgium and then finally Spain, with Matteo Berrettini and Flavio Cobolli producing monumental performances throughout the campaign. Remarkably, the doubles players in the team didn’t even have to play, as the singles lineup handled every tie with precision and confidence.

Berrettini’s experience and Cobolli’s fearless breakthrough form became the backbone of Italy’s historic run, while players like Lorenzo Musetti and Fabio Fognini served as crucial emotional anchors in the locker room. Their unified mentality — paired with strategic clarity — meant the team never once felt the absence of their highest-ranked star.

For many fans and analysts, Italy’s dominant outing marked one of the most efficient Davis Cup title runs in recent memory — not just because of the talent displayed on court, but because of the depth and belief fueling the team from within.

“We felt also the players that were not here, but it was like they were here, like Jannik Sinner” – Italian Davis Cup captain Filippo Volandri

Lorenzo Musetti, another elite Italian singles player, also withdrew from the 2025 Davis Cup Finals following the conclusion of his ATP Finals campaign. His absence created yet another gap in the lineup, one that could have raised concerns under normal circumstances. However, Team Italy quickly moved to reinforce its depth, calling upon Lorenzo Sonego to step in and complete the roster.

Sonego’s inclusion not only maintained balance within the squad but also highlighted Italy’s remarkable pool of talent — a luxury few nations currently possess. While he ultimately didn’t need to take the court, his presence added experience, energy, and tactical flexibility to the bench, giving captain Filippo Volandri multiple pathways to adjust if needed.

In many ways, Musetti’s withdrawal, paired with Sinner’s earlier absence, further amplified the significance of Italy’s eventual triumph: a victory achieved not because of star power, but because of structure, depth, and unwavering unity.

Following the team’s title triumph in Bologna, captain Filippo Volandri turned emotional and lauded the entire group of players, including absentees like Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti. He highlighted that the victory was built not only on the performances seen on court, but on the commitment, sacrifice, and connection shared by every member of the squad throughout the year.

“As a group, what I said, we had the power to manage these moments. We felt also the players that were not here, but it was like they were here, like Jannik, like (Matteo) Arnaldi, like (Lorenzo) Musetti. It’s a big, big team and only if you have a big team, you can reach this unbelievable result. It’s incredible,” Volandri said.