(Reuters) -Italy's Jannik Sinner said it was a difficult decision to miss this year's Davis Cup Finals on home soil but the world number two felt that he had to prioritise preparations for his Australian Open title defence.

The 24-year-old, who won at Melbourne Park and Wimbledon this year, was instrumental in Italy's successful Davis Cup defence in 2024 in Spain but said on Monday he was sitting out the Final 8 set to take place in Bologna from November 18-23.