Italian captain Filippo Volandri weighs in on Matteo Berrettini missing Davis Cup

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• ATP Tennis

Italian team captain Filippo Volandri acknowledged that it is disappointing not to have Matteo Berrettini available for the Davis Cup Finals but praised the 2021 Wimbledon finalist for traveling with the team to Malaga. After Jannik Sinner announced his withdrawal from the Davis Cup Finals, the Italians were hoping that Berrettini would lead them in Malaga.

Unfortunately for the Italians, Berrettini failed to recover in time from a foot injury sustained in Naples as he announced his withdrawal from the Davis Cup Finals this past weekend. "Obviously Matteo's absence is a disappointment for everyone.

Matteo is going to be with us to give us his support. It's not often that players who aren't playing decide to travel and just support from the bench. That's why I didn't want to replace him. He is still in the team," Volandri said, per the Davis Cup Finals website.

Volandri happy to have Berrettini around the team

In the absence of Berrettini and Sinner, Italy will be represented by Lorenzo Musetti, Lorenzo Sonego, Fabio Fognini and Simone Bolelli. Musetti and Sonego can play well in singles, while Fognini and Bolelli have a Grand Slam doubles title together.

"I am fortunate to have a competitive team and to be able to make decisions regardless of absences," Volandri added. Berrettini, who was also forced to miss the Paris Masters, admitted that missing the Davis Cup Finals was a hard pill to swallow.

"Sadly I have lost my recovery race to be ready in time for the Davis Cup Finals. The medical experts have advised that I am still not able to compete at my highest level following the foot injury l suffered in Naples. There is no greater honour than representing 🇮🇹 so the news is very hard to take.

I will still travel to Malaga with the team to support in anyway I can," Berrettini announced on Sunday. Italy will be taking on the United States on Thursday.