The complete player roster for the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna has sparked an unexpected selection controversy in Italy, as team captain Filippo Volandri left Matteo Berrettini off his five-man squad. Set to run from November 23 to November 29, the tournament arrives as the Azzurri attempt to defend their title without their top-ranked singles player, Jannik Sinner, who remains sidelined with a right knee injury.
Volandri selected Flavio Cobolli, Luciano Darderi, and Lorenzo Musetti for singles duty, alongside doubles specialists Andrea Vavassori and Simone Bolelli. While Sinner’s absence was anticipated due to his ongoing recovery, the omission of Berrettini—who ranked 48th and carried the team alongside Cobolli during last year’s title run—has drawn immediate scrutiny from analysts and supporters across the tennis circuit.
Volandri Defends Ranking-Based Selections Amid Sinner Absence
Defending champions Italy enter the Bologna Final 8 aiming for their fourth title, a stretch that began with three straight triumphs. Captain Filippo Volandri explained to the official federation channels that the initial roster was constructed primarily around current rankings. “These convocations, as is habitual, have been elaborated taking into account the current positions in the ranking,” Volandri stated, adding that the coming weeks would be decisive for evaluating player availability before the official deadlines. Under tournament regulations, national captains are permitted to substitute up to three players, provided changes are communicated by 11:00 AM on Monday, November 23, the day before competition gets underway.
¿ENTONCES LOS RUMORES SON REALES? 🚨— Entrevistador: "Tu amigo Lorenzo Musetti acaba de ganar un título después de bastante tiempo, ¿eso te sirve de inspiración?" — Berrettini: "¿Estamos en vivo?" — Entrevistador: "Sí, estamos en vivo". — Berrettini: "Bueno, está…”
The squad features Flavio Cobolli, who steps into a premier singles role after a breakthrough campaign, alongside recent Lyon champion Lorenzo Musetti and newcomer Luciano Darderi. In doubles, Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori anchor the pairings as the fifth-ranked duo on tour. Though Berrettini was omitted from the initial list, Volandri emphasized that the wider talent pool still includes proven Davis Cup stalwarts such as Matteo Arnaldi and Lorenzo Sonego, leaving the door open for potential adjustments before the opening match against South Korea on November 25.
Cold Exchanges Fuel Rumors of Personal Friction With Musetti
Beyond sporting criteria, speculation has mounted over whether personal dynamics influenced Berrettini’s exclusion. Social media discussions and recent player interactions point to a possible strain in the relationship between Berrettini and Musetti, who historically maintained a close friendship. Observers noted that the two players no longer follow each other on social media platforms.
Those rumors gained traction following Berrettini’s opening-round victory at the Vienna ATP 500 tournament. When a TennisTV interviewer asked Berrettini if his friend Lorenzo Musetti’s recent title win in Lyon served as an inspiration, the Italian player’s demeanor shifted visibly. Asking to confirm whether the broadcast was live, Berrettini offered a brief, guarded response: Ok. Sé que trabajó muy duro para volver y supongo que se lo merece
(Okay. I know he worked very hard to come back and I suppose he deserves it
), before turning away. Neither Berrettini nor Musetti has issued public statements confirming or denying any private dispute, leaving it unclear whether team chemistry played a role in Volandri’s final selections for Bologna.
Draw and Path Through the Bologna Final 8
Italy will begin its title defense in the quarterfinals against South Korea, with the winner advancing to face either the Czech Republic—featuring Jakub Mensik and Jiri Lehecka—or Canada in the semifinals. On the opposite side of the knockout bracket, Alexander Zverev’s Germany and Carlos Alcaraz’s Spain loom as formidable contenders for the trophy.
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