Carlos Alcaraz defends Jannik Sinner's Davis Cup Finals withdrawal

Friday, 14 November 2025 at 15:20

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byJordan Reynolds

Carlos Alcaraz believes he has a solution to stop players like Jannik Sinner from withdrawing from the Davis Cup, which has harmed the 2025 finals lineup.

This year's finals of the iconic team event will be held in Bologna from November 18th to 23rd. Many Italian fans who bought tickets undoubtedly did so hoping to see Sinner, the country's greatest player, in action.

That possibility ended when Sinner withdrew from the Davis Cup Finals. The four-time Grand Slam champion said he wanted an extra week to prepare in the off-season before attempting to win a third consecutive Australian Open title in January.

Italian No. 2 Lorenzo Musetti also withdrew, severely damaging the team's chances of winning the title again. Sinner played a crucial role in his country's title runs in 2023 and 2024, and those successes might have influenced his decision to withdraw this year.

Alcaraz, who has committed to playing for Team Spain at the finals, spoke about the topic during a 2025 ATP Finals press conference. He refused to criticize Sinner or Musetti because of the grueling schedule.

"I would say it’s normal for them because the season has been so long. They might keep it to have one more week to recover, to do a vacation, to do pre-season, which is understandable. It’s normal."

The 22-year-old would like the Davis Cup held every two or three years rather than annually. Alcaraz believes that move could make the tournament feel more special and prevent so many top players from withdrawing.

"They have to do something in this event because I think playing every year is not as good as it might be if you’re playing every two or three years. I think if the tournament is played like every two or every three years, the commitment of the players is going to be even more because it’s unique."

Although an interesting idea, it will probably not happen, at least in the next few years. Not holding the Davis Cup would lead to a reduction in revenue for the International Tennis Federation and the countries' associations that participate.

Carlos Alcaraz loves representing Spain in the Davis Cup

In a press conference at the 2025 ATP Finals, Carlos Alcaraz discusses how playing in the Davis Cup is different from other events because representing one's country brings pressure that cannot be replicated elsewhere.

"I think the Davis Cup is one of those tournaments that you’re not used to feeling and playing because you’re playing for your country, you’re playing with your teammates. It’s totally different. I think it’s one of the most privileged things you can do in our sport, representing your country."

Last year's Davis Cup Finals in Malaga will probably always be Alcaraz's most high-profile appearance at the tournament. Rafael Nadal made his final professional appearance before retiring.

Unfortunately for the 22-time Grand Slam champion and his fans, the farewell did not end as he hoped. Botic van de Zandschulp defeated Nadal in the singles before Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers' doubles loss confirmed Team Spain's elimination.