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Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
‘One of the most astonishing PR moves in tennis history' – Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner slammed for coach decision
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JANNIK SINNER has rehired the fitness coach that played a key role in his failed drugs tests last year. Prior to winning Wimbledon this summer, Sinner, 23, served a three-month ban after twice testing positive for banned substance clostebol in March 2024. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Jannik Sinner has reunited with fitness coach Umberto Ferrara Credit: Getty 3 Sinner, 23, recently defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final Credit: Getty Sinner's explanation was that a spray purchased over-the-counter in Italy by fitness coach Umberto Ferrara had been used by physio Giacomo Naldi to treat a cut. Naldi is then said to have contaminated Sinner with the substance while massaging his feet. The world No1 was not initially suspended, and in August last year an International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) tribunal determined that he bore "no fault or negligence" for the contamination. Following the decision, Sinner axed both Ferrara and Naldi and went on to win the US Open and Australian Open. The Italian went on to hire Novak Djokovic's former fitness team Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio - but parted with both prior to his Wimbledon triumph. Sinner has since filled the vacancy by turning back to Ferrara, in a decision that has raised eyebrows among the tennis community. Former doubles Grand Slam champion Paul McNamee wrote on X: "Jannik Sinner rehiring Umberta Ferrara has to be up there as one of the most astonishing PR moves in tennis history. You can afford to hire anyone in the world. Why oh why Jannik?" Sinner eventually served a three-month ban after this year's Australian Open following the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) decision to appeal the ITIA's previous verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Prior to the appeal reaching a courtroom, an agreement was reached between WADA and Sinner for the reigning No1 to serve a three-month ban - which enabled him to return in time for his home tournament in Rome, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Upon axing Ferrara and Naldi last August, Sinner said: "I'm not feeling that confident to continue with them." Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner interrupted as umpire forced to make 'most Wimbledon announcement ever' Since then, Ferrara appeared to attempt to shift the blame towards Naldi during an interview with Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport. Sinner's fitness coach said: "I very clearly communicated to Naldi both the nature of the product, and the fact that it must not come into contact with Jannik for any reason." He then went onto add: "I suggested that he use it because he had a cut on his finger that wasn't healing and was affecting his work. I only allowed it to be used in my personal bathroom. "Naldi did not deny being told about it, but he said he did not remember." Confirming Ferrara's return to the team, a Sinner statement read: "Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach with immediate effect. "The decision has been made in alignment with Jannik's management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and U.S. Open. 'Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level.' Sinner has withdrawn from next week's Masters 1000 event in Canada. The Wimbledon champion is next scheduled to appear in Cincinnati, before his US Open title defence begins next month.
The Sun
2 hours ago
- The Sun
‘One of the most astonishing PR moves in tennis history' – Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner slammed for coach decision
JANNIK SINNER has rehired the fitness coach that played a key role in his failed drugs tests last year. Prior to winning Wimbledon this summer, Sinner, 23, served a three-month ban after twice testing positive for banned substance clostebol in March 2024. 3 3 Sinner's explanation was that a spray purchased over-the-counter in Italy by fitness coach Umberto Ferrara had been used by physio Giacomo Naldi to treat a cut. Naldi is then said to have contaminated Sinner with the substance while massaging his feet. The world No1 was not initially suspended, and in August last year an International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) tribunal determined that he bore "no fault or negligence" for the contamination. Following the decision, Sinner axed both Ferrara and Naldi and went on to win the US Open and Australian Open. The Italian went on to hire Novak Djokovic 's former fitness team Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio - but parted with both prior to his Wimbledon triumph. Sinner has since filled the vacancy by turning back to Ferrara, in a decision that has raised eyebrows among the tennis community. Former doubles Grand Slam champion Paul McNamee wrote on X: "Jannik Sinner rehiring Umberta Ferrara has to be up there as one of the most astonishing PR moves in tennis history. You can afford to hire anyone in the world. Why oh why Jannik?" Sinner eventually served a three-month ban after this year's Australian Open following the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) decision to appeal the ITIA's previous verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Prior to the appeal reaching a courtroom, an agreement was reached between WADA and Sinner for the reigning No1 to serve a three-month ban - which enabled him to return in time for his home tournament in Rome, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Upon axing Ferrara and Naldi last August, Sinner said: "I'm not feeling that confident to continue with them." Since then, Ferrara appeared to attempt to shift the blame towards Naldi during an interview with Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport. Sinner's fitness coach said: "I very clearly communicated to Naldi both the nature of the product, and the fact that it must not come into contact with Jannik for any reason." He then went onto add: "I suggested that he use it because he had a cut on his finger that wasn't healing and was affecting his work. I only allowed it to be used in my personal bathroom. "Naldi did not deny being told about it, but he said he did not remember." Confirming Ferrara's return to the team, a Sinner statement read: "Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach with immediate effect. "The decision has been made in alignment with Jannik's management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and U.S. Open. 'Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level.' Sinner has withdrawn from next week's Masters 1000 event in Canada. The Wimbledon champion is next scheduled to appear in Cincinnati, before his US Open title defence begins next month. 3
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Nick Kyrgios makes feelings very clear as Jannik Sinner causes new controversy
Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has reappointed former fitness coach Umberto Ferrara, who the men's world No.1 dropped after he tested positive for a banned substance Nick Kyrgios claims that the tennis world has been 'played' after Jannik Sinner reappointed the same fitness coach who he dropped in the wake of his doping scandal. Sinner, 23, confirmed on Wednesday that he'd reunited with Umberto Ferrara just weeks after winning Wimbledon for the first time. The Italian parted ways with both Ferrara and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi last year following an investigation into his two positive tests for the banned substance clostebol. Tennis chiefs accepted that the substance had entered his system inadvertently during massages from Naldi at Indian Wells in March 2024. After agreeing a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency, Sinner served a three-month suspension earlier this year. Critics like Kyrgios believe that the men's world No.1 got off lightly. The 30-year-old former Wimbledon finalist has been outspoken about the length and timing of Sinner's ban which allowed him not to miss a Grand Slam. After Sinner beat rival Carlos Alcaraz in the men's singles final, Kyrgios posted an asterisk. On Wednesday, Kyrgios reacted to the news of Ferrara's reappointment. "Unfortunately this isn't @TennisCentel," he posted on X, referencing the popular parody news account. In a later post, Kyrgios said: "He got the same doc back. We have been played ladies and gentlemen." His post included three laughing emojis and five potato emojis. A statement from Sinner's team pointed to Ferrara's 'important role' in the four-time Grand Slam winners' development. "The decision has been made in alignment with Jannik's management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and US Open," it read. Should Jannik Sinner have received a bigger punishment? Have your say in the comments section. "Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level." Sinner, though, doesn't think that his reputation has been badly damaged by the scandal, suggesting that people have already 'forgotten' about the issue. When asked if he had any concerns about the reception he'd receive at Wimbledon, Sinner replied: "To be honest, no... I think people kind of have forgotten already a little bit what happened. "Of course, there are still things, but so many things, new notifications, whatever, coming. So that's the good and the bad of social [media] that something happens and people don't know anymore what happened yesterday. "In the other way, I have good relationship with more or less all players like I had before. Of course, in the beginning it was a bit different. People saw me in different ways. But I think they all saw that I'm a very clean player. "I never [had the] intention to do anything bad. I always try to be the best I can, having a good team around me. That's exactly what I try to do in the future. The things I can control, I will control, as I always say, also on the court and off the court. It was an incident, yes. It happened. But yeah, the result also says that I haven't done anything on purpose. It's all good."
