Is Italy Already the Best Country in the World in Tennis?

Over the past two decades, in Italy, a land of great multidisciplinary champions, a true tennis revolution has been slowly simmering. Millions invested in the training of young talents, in improving infrastructures across the country, in organizing tournaments at the lowest level of the tennis pyramid (Futures and Challengers), in recruiting coaches and trainers from different parts of the globe (with a special emphasis on South America)... all aimed at one clear goal: turning the Mediterranean country into a top-tier tennis power.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games have been a testament that this revolution is already bearing fruit. Because Italy has become accustomed to success in recent seasons, but it was only a matter of time before they could confirm it when their players fought for an Olympic medal. They reached the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup 2023, won the 2024 Davis Cup (defeating teams like Djokovic's Serbia and Australia along the way), and now, they have clinched two medals in the Olympic event for the first time in their history. Is there anyone who can match their level and depth across the two circuits?

What adds even more merit to their achievements is that all this took place without their biggest star, the man who has brought Grand Slam glory back to the transalpine country. Despite the absence of Jannik Sinner due to illness, Lorenzo Musetti, Jasmine Paolini, and Sara Errani carried the weight of the flag on their shoulders and secured a bronze and a gold, making headlines and front pages in their country. Three names symbolizing years and years of preparation: a war veteran who completed the Golden Career Slam in doubles, a fighter who made impressive progress when many had already counted her out, and a natural talent representing the best (and sometimes the worst) of Italian classic tennis.

WHAT NOW?

It's no coincidence that authorities and Italian players are excited about what their compatriots are achieving. Angelo Binaghi knows that the public is also responding to the call of tennis and confirmed in Corriere dello Sport that the US Open will be broadcast on Italian television, through SuperTennis, sharing his enthusiasm after the Paris performance.

"We have six players among the top 50 in the world; Sinner could have had tonsillitis, but that didn't affect our results. I haven't spoken with him, I don't need to, he's an open book. I know what he's doing; he always makes the right decisions. Musetti's bronze is worth gold: he was up against two aliens, Djokovic and Alcaraz. He was the first of the humans. Errani's gold was recognition of her career, her perseverance, and passion."

"We're heading to New York with Sinner as the world's number one, with Paolini as number three in the Race, and with everyone else in great form. We've seen what Musetti did in Paris and what Berrettini has accomplished in previous tournaments. Men's singles, doubles, women's doubles: we are everywhere. We have fifteen days of great tennis ahead, live and on our television channel, it's an opportunity the public should not miss."

And indeed, the results at the latest hard court Grand Slam are encouraging for Italy, with Sinner lifting the singles trophy in Australia and Bolelli/Vavassori reaching the doubles final. Standing out in this tournament is Lorenzo Sonego, who finds in the success of his compatriots the fuel to enhance his own performances. Reflecting from Toronto on the state of Italian tennis, he also shared his thoughts with Ubitennis.

"Errani, Paolini, and Musetti have given us great satisfaction. I am happy for Italy; it's a great moment for our sport. Tennis has brought us medals that we've been missing for a long time." Lolo will aim to climb the rankings in Canada, where he started with a win against Griekspoor and will face Alejandro Tabilo in the second round. Is this part of the current tennis powerhouse? Judge for yourselves.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¿Es ya Italia el mejor país del mundo en tenis?