Musetti joins Sinner in Davis Cup forfeit

TURIN, Italy :Lorenzo Musetti has withdrawn from the Italy team which will defend their Davis Cup title in Bologna next week, with the 23-year-old citing physical and family reasons after his loss to Carlos Alcaraz at the ATP Finals in Turin on Thursday.

Italy, who have won the past two editions, were already without Jannik Sinner after the world number two decided not to take part, preferring to prioritise preparations for his Australian Open title defence.

Musetti made his debut at the season-ending championships in Turin this week as a late replacement following the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic, having missed out on automatic qualification after defeat to the Serb in Athens on Saturday.

The Italian, unlike the other seven players involved in the ATP Finals, had no time to prepare at the Inalpi Arena prior to the tournament, and along with his almost three-hour match with Djokovic, had gone the distance in two other rounds in Athens.

"Given my physical condition and my family situation, in agreement with captain Filippo Volandri, I have decided not to participate in the Davis Cup finals in Bologna," said Musetti, whose partner is due to give birth shortly.

"Obviously, there is a lot of regret and disappointment for how I came into this competition. With a better approach, perhaps I would have tried to play it, despite the family commitment.

"I knew that physical fatigue was difficult to shake off after the battles of the last few months, and especially the last few weeks, in one day."

Musetti was part of Italy's team for their two recent wins, and his place is expected to be taken by Lorenzo Sonego who has been in Turin practicing in recent days.

A win over Alcaraz would have sent Musetti through to the semi-finals, but