Lorenzo Musetti understands why Jannik Sinner is taking his time, even if he regrets it. The Italian said on Friday that his compatriot, who will miss the Davis Cup Finals in Bologna, had been “kind of conservative” about his return, because he did not want to rush anything with so many years ahead of him on the Tour.

“He is a true professional and knows how to deal with the situation,” Musetti told Bolavip. “It is no secret that he has been kind of conservative, simply because he didn’t want to rush anything, because he is still looking at the many years he has left on the Tour.”

For Musetti, his absence is a loss for Italy and for the sport. “It is a pity not to have Jannik on the team for the Davis Cup Finals, because he is probably the best player in the world, especially on that surface,” he said, describing him as “the leader of the Tour”.

Musetti was speaking in Stockholm after losing 6-4, 6-2 to Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals of the Bybit Stockholm Open, a day after a 2-hour 29-minute quarter-final against Ugo Humbert. Italy, the defending champion, will host the Davis Cup by Generali Final 8 in Bologna from November 24 to 29, and Musetti still has “high expectations” for a team that, he says, “never gives up”.