Jannik Sinner makes surprise U-turn about team member
Jannik Sinner has made another change to his coaching team as he has rehired the fitness coach he sacked just 10 months ago following his positive drug tests in 2024.
The world No 1 has confirmed that he has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach, effective immediately, with the move coming less than a month after he made a surprise decision to part ways with Marco Panichi.
Sinner hired Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio in September 2024, but he announced on the eve of Wimbledon that the pair are no longer working with his team as he insisted there was no major fallout.
“No, nothing major happened. Nothing big happened. I parted ways not long ago, but it’s not affecting me. I feel ready to compete. I feel free. I feel me and my team, we are ready to do the best we can,” he said.
The Italian, of course, went on to win Wimbledon without a fitness coach and physiotherapist, as we defeated Carlos Alcaraz in four sets in the final.
But two weeks after lifting his fourth Grand Slam trophy, the 23-year-old has joined forces with Ferrara again.
“Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach, effective immediately,” a statement from his team read. “The decision was made together with Jannik’s management as part of the ongoing preparation for upcoming tournaments, including Cincinnati and the US Open.
“Umberto has played an important role in Jannik’s development, and his return reflects a renewed focus on consistency and performance at the highest level.”
Jannik Sinner News
Jannik Sinner’s coach in retirement decision U-turn as 2026 plans revealed
Holger Rune hires Novak Djokovic & Jannik Sinner’s ex-team member after Andre Agassi move
Ferrara was part of Sinner’s coaching set-up from 2022 until 2024 and during that time he helped the Italian to win his maiden Grand Slam at the 2024 Australian Open while he also became world No 1 in June last year.
But ties were cut just before the US Open as Sinner parted ways with Ferrara and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi after he tested positive for the banned substance clostebol in March 2024.
An independent tribunal found that Sinner bore “no fault or negligence” for the failed test as the substance entered his body when Naldi administered a massage after using clostebol to treat an injury. Meanwhile, Ferrara was the one who advised Naldi to use the spray to treat his finger.
Sinner replaced them with Panichi and Badio – who both worked with tennis great Novak Djokovic in the past – shortly after winning the 2024 US Open.
The pair was part of the team that won the 2025 Australian Open while they also finished runner-up at the French Open, but Sinner then caused a stir when he announced before Wimbledon that he would start the tournament without a fitness coach and physio, but still went on to win the title.
But he has now once again turned to Ferrara, but there is still no word on a new physiotherapist.
Ferrara joins coaches Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill on the team, but there are still question marks over Cahill’s future.
The Australian announced at the start of 2025 that he would retire after this season, but following Sinner’s Wimbledon title run he suggested that he hinted that he is likely to continue in his role next year.
