Lorenzo Musetti was named Italian athlete of the year by Gazzetta dello Sport, a decision that came as a surprise given Jannik Sinner’s excellent season.
Many believe that the choice of journalists is related to Sinner’s refusal to play for Italy in the Davis Cup.
Jannik Sinner had a top year. He reached the finals of every Grand Slam tournament and won the Australian Open and Wimbledon. In addition, he won four more titles despite a three-month doping ban that affected his final position in the ATP rankings. Even so, Sinner was arguably the best Italian player of 2025.
His decision not to compete in the Davis Cup, however, sparked fan displeasure and much controversy. Although Italy won the competition, resentment towards the leader of Italian tennis remained.
In this context, Gazzetta dello Sport chose Lorenzo Musetti as the athlete of the year. Musetti had a solid season and made it to the Tournament of Champions, but his results don’t compare to Sinner’s. In contrast, Musetti missed the Davis Cup due to medical reasons, being exhausted after the battle to qualify for the season-ending tournament.
The results recorded by Musetti in 2025:
– Semi-final at Wimbledon;
– Quarter-finals at the US Open;
– 3rd round at the Australian Open;
– First round at Roland Garros;
– A lost ATP 1000 final;
– Lost two ATP 250 finals.
The results recorded by Jannik Sinner in 2025:
– Australian Open winner;
– Winner at Wimbledon;
– Final at Roland Garros;
– US Open Final;
– Winner of the Tournament of Champions;
– Winner of an ATP 1000 tournament;
– Won two ATP 500 tournaments.
