“It’s a big slap in the face for Italian sport.” Former Italian ATP icon Nicola Pietrangeli had a harsh reaction earlier this week to compatriot and 24-year-old star Jannik Sinner’s shocking Davis Cup call . Owing to a hectic schedule, the former World No.1 opted to withdraw from Italy’s campaign in Bologna. The four-time slam winner explained, “It wasn’t an easy decision (to skip the Davis Cup) , but after Turin, the goal is to get off on the right foot in Australia,” but it appears the backlash is only going to aggravate further. But now, Sinner has come up with a crystal-clear response.

Sinner is competing at the Austrian Open this week in Vienna. On Wednesday, he kicked off his campaign with a rapid fast win over Germany’s Daniel Altmaier. The “Italian Machine” bested him in

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