By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, November 13, 2022
Italy's quest to reclaim the Davis Cup got a lot tougher.
Italian No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from this month's Davis Cup Finals due to a finger injury he sustained at the Rolex Paris Masters last month.
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Italy is playing for its first Davis Cup championship since 1976.
"I am very sad to announce that I will not be able to participate in the Davis Cup final," Sinner posted on Twitter. "I suffer from a finger injury from Paris. Unfortunately, I have not recovered yet and therefore will not be able to join our team.
"It was a very difficult decision for me, playing for my country is always an honor and I hope to be back soon. Come on Italy!"
World No. 46 Lorenzo Sonego replaces Sinner on the Italian roster.
The 15th-ranked Sinner concludes 2022 with a 47-16 record, including his fifth career title in Umag where he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Sinner also stopped Alcaraz in the Wimbledon round of 16 and nearly knocked the 19-year-old Spaniard out of the US Open before bowing in a five-set epic that was one of the best matches of the season.
Still, coming off his four-title 2021 season, 2022 was disappointing for Sinner, who struggled with an assortment of injuries.
Italy's loss may well be the United States' gain.
The USA and Italy will square off in the Davis Cup quarterfinals on November 24th in Malaga, Spain with the winner facing Canada or Germany in the semifinals.
Photo credit: Getty