"In tennis we were the last, today we are the strongest in the world. Since tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world, I think this is great news for our country."
Fitp President Angelo Binaghi is delighted after winning the Davis Cup and expands the discussion on the double with the BJ King Cup, the old Fed Cup, won by women. A double that only four other nations have managed so far.
"There are extraordinary stories behind this title," says Binaghi. " The stories of Paolini and Errani, of Berrettini who last year raised the team without being able to play, this year he comes back, plays and wins six matches out of six. Of Sinner who skipped Bologna last year and they massacred him, we defended him and he brought two Davis Cups. The stories of Cobolli, Arnaldi, of Bolelli and Vavassori who brought points in the group. Today Fognini and Nardi also won two Challengers, we have 10 players in the top 101."
Many individual stories that make up "a group victory, for the entire world of Italian tennis , for the clubs, the teachers, the managers, the fans. We are the strongest nation in the world ". And this, concludes Binaghi, "is fuel for our main goal, which is to become an increasingly popular sport. Tennis is the sport that extends life the most, all the studies say so. We must transform all these spectators into practitioners ".
THE NUMBERS
And it is good to remember them, the numbers of this incredible 2024. Twenty-six total titles among men, women, singles, doubles, mixed doubles and nationals. Sinner first number 1 in the Italian ranking in history, ten men among the top 101 in the ranking .
Three Slams: Sinner in Melbourne and New York, Errani-Vavassori in mixed doubles in New York . Paolini's two Slam finals in Paris and London, three more Slam finals in doubles (two for Bolelli-Vavassori, one for Errani-Paolini).
