Jannik Sinner has been an absolute beast this season. The Italian star claimed a massive 8 titles this season, including 2 Grand Slams, and the ATP Finals in Turin. This all came in the backdrop of the fact that he was going through doping allegations simultaneously. However, it did little to distract him from tennis. Consequently, the World No.1 has developed a huge fan base, all over the world, particularly in Italy. And this has led to a tussle between the two broadcasters, FITP, and Rai.

In most, if not all, European nations, soccer grabs more screen space than any other sport, even tennis. And Italy is no different. While the FITP has the TV right for the Davis Cup and the BJK Cup, they share it with the Rai to ensure accessibility to every Italian tennis fan. However, things are not going as the FITP had planned. They had expected that tennis would occupy the prime time on the Rai but that didn’t turn out to be the case, despite Italy’s and particularly Sinner’s terrific performance at both the tournaments.

Journalist Giovanni Pelazzo quoted the FITP president Angelo Binaghi on his official X account. They said, “The TV rights of the Davis Cup and the BJK Cup belong to FITP: either Rai treats tennis like football, or we keep them. As president, I have the duty to defend these people. The management of the tennis offer is insufficient: Sinner must go on Rai1, not Rai2. The exclusive rights are ours, but we have always shared them with Rai for educational purposes. I cannot stand that tennis is considered by Rai as a minor sport”

The president, Angelo Binaghi, echoed the sentiment of many tennis fans, who were unable to watch Jannik Sinner and team Italy in action. The FITP president further opened up about his expectations from Rai’s management as he held soccer and tennis on the same pedestal. He further added, “I want the Slam finals to be watched by kids who love tennis. I asked the top management of Rai for a more prestigious placement and I was told that there are marketing considerations. Tennis is as popular as football. Rai should understand this: the damage is for the country.”

Binaghi is not far from the truth. In a historical achievement this year, Italy claimed both the BJK Cup and the Davis Cup, thus marking a new era of tennis in the nation. On top of the latest feat, Sinner’s achievements throughout the season have certainly brought added zeal into the circuit.

Meanwhile, one Brit commentator thinks that Italy would have won the Davis Cup even without Jannik Sinner.

Tennis expert hails Italy’s Davis Cup success, believes they could have won without Jannik Sinner

It was an amazing season for Italy. They brought home both titles, with the best players of the nation representing them. However, the British commentator and tennis expert Jason Goodall thinks that Jannik Sinner was inconsequential to their victory. Though he praised the Italian for representing his nation twice in a row, at the Davis Cup. But according to Goodall, the Italian team had a good depth in tennis anyway and they might still have been strong contenders if Sinner wasn’t there.

He said, “They’ve got strength in depth, haven’t they? Even if Sinner wasn’t playing, they’d still be very much one of the favorites to perhaps win the trophy.” He is right in a way, as all the Italian players were in their top form. However, it must still be reassuring for Italy to have the best player in the world on their side.

Goodall, however, further praised Jannik Sinner for his contributions, as he said, “It’s just so nice that Sinner has actually committed to playing this competition over the course of the last two seasons because we know that often players don’t.”

Jannik Sinner’s consistency throughout the season has been terrific. Despite a few injury and health scares, along with the controversial doping allegations, Sinner has always come out on the top, barring a few instances. Do you think he will be able to carry this momentum to the next season as well? Let us know in the comments below.