The President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, met this morning at the Quirinale with the Italian men's and women's tennis teams, winners of the Davis Cup and Bjk Cup. "The year started well with Sinner's victory and the doubles final of Vavassori and Bonelli at the Australian Open. It was a year of great successes, an extraordinary season for Italy", he praised during the great celebration for the Italian triumphs. "Now we await the third Davis victory, but it is not essential right away. This year, the Davis was also happily accompanied by the victory of the Italians in the event named after Billie Jean King. I have followed them both extensively and consistently".

As reported in recent days, Jannik Sinner, fresh from his sensational success in Australia , did not participate in the meeting . Speaking in his place was Matteo Berrettini: «I experienced the girls' successes first-hand because when I could I went to see them and I took energy from them. This was the secret to the national team's successes, then - jokes Berrettini, referring to Sinner - there was also a boy from Alto Adige who helped us a little. Now we will try to do our best, we want to continue to bring emotions into the homes of those who watch tennis».

Cagliari native Angelo Binaghi, president of the Fitp, invited Mattarella to the next international tournament in Rome in May. "All we need is a dream," said the number one of the Federtennis. " In May we will organize a special edition of the Internazionali d'Italia in Rome with Sport e Salute. An Italian's victory has been missing for almost fifty years: it would be a thrill to have it with us ." The Fitp president then added: "Tennis today is much more popular, more followed and more played. And in 2024 we have exaggerated with victories. We had already won the Davis and Fed Cup in the past, but this year is different: in our individual sport, winning the Davis and BJ King Cup is a team victory. We have shown the world how Italy knows how to work as a team. We have clear ideas: we want to bring tennis into the homes of all Italians through TV, go to schools to teach tennis and padel."

"You have all been exceptional," continued Mattarella. " You have placed Italian tennis at the top of the world and at the highest level of popularity and practice in our country: this gives us hope for the future and for the new generations. We never would have hoped to reach these results: for this I want to thank you all ." The men's and women's teams participated in the event. Also present was the president of Coni, Giovanni Malagò: "We are all proud of our tennis and we must give credit to president Binaghi for carrying forward a federation that has been able to obtain these results."

(Unioneonline/r.sp.)

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