Sinner, the future has already taken shape: here’s what’s coming up next and why the Italian will be called to a real obstacle course.
Jannik Sinner didn’t have time to finish “studying” the Miami main draw that he immediately found himself, in the past few days, analyzing other crossovers and looking ahead. That’s because, just days before its debut in Florida, the four groups of the Davis Cup group stage were drawn.
All in all, the Italian national team didn’t do so badly. There were so many loose cannons lurking around that it is fortunate, on balance, that Italtennis dodged them. This does not mean, however, that it will be a cakewalk. Each round is a world unto itself, and there are so many, as a result, potential pitfalls that Coach Volandri and his team could encounter on the way to the much-coveted encore. The premises for doing well, in any case, are all there. Especially if, as is hoped, Sinner and the others can return to rely on the team man par excellence, namely Matteo Berrettini.
The Roman has finally returned to play and the possibility that he will also be present at the Davis Cup group stage is, therefore, quite concrete. However, everyone will have to contribute equally to this new battle between Nationals, as there is a great desire to repeat last year’s success and give the Italian people another satisfaction yet.
Sinner, watch out for her: it won’t be a walkover
Italy will have to contend against Belgium, Brazil and the Netherlands, and it is the latter that will worry Filippo Volandri. While he is well aware of the level of his boys, he rightly prefers to tread lightly.
So much so, that when interviewed by SuperTennis immediately after the draw, he was quick to point out that “the quality of the 16 teams that make it to the round robin I think is the highest I can remember.” As if to say that nothing should ever be taken for granted and that it will be necessary to always fight as if on the other side of the net there were the toughest opponents you could cross.
“We drew the Netherlands, whom we beat in Malaga in the doubles playoff, and they are perhaps the team to fear most in our group. Watch out, however, also for Belgium and Brazil, highlighted the national team coach, who never leaves anything to chance. “Playing at home for us will be a great advantage,” he remarked, “we also saw it in Malaga, where it felt like we were in Italy. In Bologna last year we went through very difficult moments, but the public gave us a very important boost. We look forward to defending the title. “