After his elimination at the Turin Masters, Lorenzo Musetti confirmed that he would not play in the final phase of the Davis Cup next week. France, which could challenge Italy in the semi-finals, hopes to take advantage of the windfall.
With five players in the Top 40 in singles and two in the Top 15 in doubles, Italian men’s tennis is currently experiencing the best period in its history. Italy has also won the last two editions of the Davis Cup, and in December 2024, when the organizers announced that the 2025 final phase would be held in Bologna, one could imagine that Italy would be the huge favorite to achieve the treble.
But the transalpine chances took a turn for the worse with the announcement of Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal a few weeks ago and that of Lorenzo Musetti on Thursday. Qualified at the last minute for the Turin Masters, the Tuscan was eliminated from the race for the semi-finals by losing to Carlos Alcaraz.
Musetti soon to be a dad
And at the same time, he made it known that he would not make the short trip to Bologna, where the final phase of the Davis Cup is taking place starting next Tuesday. “I decided due to my physical condition and my family situation not to play the Davis Cup. It is of course a decision that I regret and which disappoints me, but this year, I am sorry, it will be without me“, explained the 23-year-old player, father of little Ludovico for a year and a half, and whose partner is due to give birth to their second child in the coming days.
Following a double withdrawal, it is Flavio Cobolli (23 years old, 22nd), who becomes the leader of the Italian team, but who is not in the form of his life since he has not won two matches in a row since the US Open. Matteo Berrettini (29 years old, 56th) will also be there. He remains in two quarter-finals, in Vienna and Metz, but remains far from the level which made him a Wimbledon finalist.
A France – Italy clash in the semi-finals?
Captain Filippo Volandri should recall another singles player (the 26th in the world Luciano Darderi? The 39th Lorenzo Sonego?). For the doubles, however, there is no need to worry, with the confirmed presence of Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori, who will compete in the semi-finals of the Masters this weekend.
Italy will face Austria on Wednesday in the quarter-finals, with a good chance of winning.
Then in the semi-finals, the Transalpines will challenge France or Belgium. If the Blues, led by Arthur Rinderknech (29th), Corentin Moutet (35th), Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (59th), Benjamin Bonzi (94th) and Pierre-Hugues Herbert (65th in doubles) manage to pass the Belgian obstacle on Tuesday, they could dream of a good performance against the local players. To play in a first final since 2018?
