\u201cThere\u2019s this false feeling out there that top players don\u2019t represent their nation. That\u2019s not true,\u201d Haggerty told reporters on Sunday, ahead of the Italy\u2013Spain final.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
This year\u2019s edition of the historic international team event, organised annually by the ITF, has been without some of the sport\u2019s biggest draws. Yet Haggerty insisted that the commitment from top-tier athletes remains strong.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cSome of those top players that played in the qualifier round or the second qualifier round didn\u2019t make it to the finals. And so we had many top players that have played,\u201d he said, stressing that early-round participation is often overlooked when judging players\u2019 dedication.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAnd while Jannik and Carlos would be nice to have here, their teams are competing with the spirit of the strength that they provide to their teammates,\u201d he added.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The absences of the world\u2019s top two players have inevitably dominated the build-up to the final. Spain\u2019s Alcaraz withdrew on Tuesday morning after sustaining an injury, while Italy\u2019s Sinner opted out weeks earlier, choosing to rest and prepare for the 2026 season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Italian supporters were dealt further disappointment when world No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti pulled out following his ATP Finals exit. Musetti cited both his physical condition and the imminent birth of his second child as reasons for missing the home tie.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The absences of the world\u2019s top two players have inevitably dominated the build-up to the final. Spain\u2019s Alcaraz withdrew on Tuesday morning after sustaining an injury, while Italy\u2019s Sinner opted out weeks earlier, choosing to rest and prepare for the 2026 season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Despite the absence of its brightest stars on Sunday, the ITF chief believes the Davis Cup continues to embody national pride, competitive grit, and the camaraderie that has defined it for more than a century.<\/p>\r\n\r\n