Two-time Grand Slam winner Nicola Pietrangeli believes
Jannik Sinner is the best Italian player currently playing in the circuit.
The 22-year-old is rated as one of the best young talent in the
men’s singles category alongside Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz and America’s Ben
Shelton.
Pietrangeli, who won the French Open back in 1959 and 1960, was
recently quoted in a report where he named Sinner as the best young talents in
the country.
“Currently, Sinner is undoubtedly the best [Italian player] followed
by Matteo Berrettini,” said the 90-year-old. “The one who plays best, but is
not the strongest, is Lorenzo Musetti. We have a good fighter in Lorenzo Sonego
and two/three other very interesting guys who are getting noticed.
“We have a good team. For ten years we were supported by the
girls but if this team wins the Davis Cup tomorrow it won't surprise me at all.”
Pietrangeli further went on to talk about the Davis Cup and how
he does not like the new regulations.
"The Davis Cup? In this first round of the Davis Cup
the boys did their duty,” he said. “It was not an easy group, because the
number one and number two were missing, but they did well.
“I am called mister Davis Cup, because of I played more than
anyone. Having played 164, I have to say that I don't like this new regulation
at all because it took away all the charm that was there during that week.
“But these are the orders and that's how it's done. Who in
my opinion is the best tennis player in Italian history? I am. Adriano Panatta
was born to play tennis but it didn't last long. Everyone was a champion in
their era but we should take a book, find out about the history and then we'll
talk about it again.”