Latest news with #UmbertoFerrara
The Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- 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
CNN
6 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
Jannik Sinner reappoints fitness coach he'd previously dropped amid doping suspension
Jannik Sinner has reappointed fitness coach Umberto Ferrara to his coaching team having previously dropped Ferrara during Sinner's recent doping suspension. Sinner served a three-month ban earlier this year after twice testing positive for banned substance Clostebol, an anabolic steroid, in March last year. The Italian previously escaped a ban when the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled that he wasn't at fault for the positive tests, accepting that the contamination was caused by a physio applying an over-the-counter spray to their own skin – not Sinner's – to treat a small wound. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) subsequently lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), leading to Sinner accepting a suspension from February 9 to May 4. The ban began just weeks after he won his third grand slam title at the Australian Open and ended before the French Open. Ferrara – as well as physio Giacomo Naldi – was let go in the aftermath of the ban's announcement but on Wednesday, a statement from Sinner's management team said he'd be rehired 'with immediate effect.' '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,' the statement sent to CNN Sports said. The statement added that the rehiring was 'made in alignment with Jannik's management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments.' The decision to rehire Ferrara comes after Sinner let go of fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio from his team ahead of Wimbledon. Since returning from his doping ban, Sinner has reached the final of both grand slams at Roland Garros and the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The world No. 1 lost in an epic encounter to Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros before getting revenge over the Spaniard at Wimbledon to win his fourth grand slam title. Sinner – along with other stars such as Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper – has withdrawn from the Canadian Open, which begins later this month, citing his need to nurse an elbow injury he sustained at Wimbledon as he prepares for the final grand slam of 2025, the US Open. Sinner is the defending champion at Flushing Meadows and could accomplish the rare achievement of reaching the final in all four grand slams in a calendar year if he makes it at the US Open.
CNN
6 days ago
- Sport
- CNN
Jannik Sinner reappoints fitness coach he'd previously dropped amid doping suspension
Jannik Sinner has reappointed fitness coach Umberto Ferrara to his coaching team having previously dropped Ferrara during Sinner's recent doping suspension. Sinner served a three-month ban earlier this year after twice testing positive for banned substance Clostebol, an anabolic steroid, in March last year. The Italian previously escaped a ban when the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled that he wasn't at fault for the positive tests, accepting that the contamination was caused by a physio applying an over-the-counter spray to their own skin – not Sinner's – to treat a small wound. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) subsequently lodged an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), leading to Sinner accepting a suspension from February 9 to May 4. The ban began just weeks after he won his third grand slam title at the Australian Open and ended before the French Open. Ferrara – as well as physio Giacomo Naldi – was let go in the aftermath of the ban's announcement but on Wednesday, a statement from Sinner's management team said he'd be rehired 'with immediate effect.' '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,' the statement sent to CNN Sports said. The statement added that the rehiring was 'made in alignment with Jannik's management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments.' The decision to rehire Ferrara comes after Sinner let go of fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio from his team ahead of Wimbledon. Since returning from his doping ban, Sinner has reached the final of both grand slams at Roland Garros and the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The world No. 1 lost in an epic encounter to Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros before getting revenge over the Spaniard at Wimbledon to win his fourth grand slam title. Sinner – along with other stars such as Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper – has withdrawn from the Canadian Open, which begins later this month, citing his need to nurse an elbow injury he sustained at Wimbledon as he prepares for the final grand slam of 2025, the US Open. Sinner is the defending champion at Flushing Meadows and could accomplish the rare achievement of reaching the final in all four grand slams in a calendar year if he makes it at the US Open.
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Sport
- Independent Singapore
Jannik Sinner brings back coach linked to doping case after winning Wimbledon
Photo: Instagram/janniksin Jannik Sinner, this season's Wimbledon men's singles title winner, recently announced that he brought back his previous fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara, despite his doping scandal. It was reported back then that Sinner ended his working relationship with Ferrara and his previous physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, after an investigation revealed that he tested positive for the banned substance called clostebol. ' 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. 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's team said in a statement. Sinner served a three-month ban earlier this season after settling the issue with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). WADA then accepted Sinner's explanation that he had unknowingly absorbed the illegal substance during the massages administered to him by Naldi at the Indian Wells back in March 2024. Moreover, Sinner also explained that the substance, which is known for its muscle-building effects, entered his system because Naldi used an over-the-counter spray on a cut on his own hand prior to treating Sinner. Furthermore, the spray had been provided to Naldi by Ferrara. Due to this, an independent tribunal cleared Sinner of any fault or negligence. At last year's US Open, Sinner announced his decision to part ways with Ferrara and Naldi: ' Now, because of these mistakes, I'm not feeling that confident to continue with them. I was struggling a lot in the last months. I was waiting for the result. The only thing I need right now is some clean air.' Before reconnecting with Ferrera, Sinner recently ended his partnership with Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio, his trainer and physiotherapist, before Wimbledon. Sinner's comeback Despite all the struggles that Sinner had to go through because of his doping suspension, the athlete had a remarkable comeback to the sport by capturing this year's Wimbledon title, defeating the reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Sinner secured the victory with a strong 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, earning his fourth Grand Slam championship. 'It's mostly emotional, because I had a very tough loss in Paris… But at the end of the day, it doesn't really matter how you win or how you lose at important tournaments; you just have to understand what you did wrong and try to work on that, and that's exactly what we did. We tried to accept the loss and just kept working. This is for sure one of the reasons I am holding this trophy here. I am just so grateful that I am healthy and have great people around me, and holding this trophy means a lot,' Sinner said. Read more about Jannik Sinner's success at the 2025 Wimbledon here. () => { const trigger = if ('IntersectionObserver' in window && trigger) { const observer = new IntersectionObserver((entries, observer) => { => { if ( { lazyLoader(); // You should define lazyLoader() elsewhere or inline here // Run once } }); }, { rootMargin: '800px', threshold: 0.1 }); } else { // Fallback setTimeout(lazyLoader, 3000); } });
Japan Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Japan Times
Sinner reappoints fitness coach he let go during doping scandal
Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has reappointed his former fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara, with immediate effect, the Italian world No. 1 confirmed on Wednesday. Sinner parted ways with Ferrara and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi last year following the investigation into his positive tests for the banned substance clostebol. "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," a statement from Sinner's team said. "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 served a three-month suspension earlier this year after agreeing to a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in February after authorities accepted that the anabolic agent clostebol had entered his system inadvertently via massages from Naldi at Indian Wells in March 2024. WADA had appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport against an independent tribunal's decision last August to clear Sinner of wrongdoing. Sinner, who returned to action in May and lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final before beating him to win Wimbledon, said clostebol, which can build muscle mass, entered his system after Naldi applied an over-the-counter spray to a cut on his own hand before carrying out treatments on Sinner. The spray had been given to Naldi by trainer Ferrara. Sinner was cleared of fault or negligence by an independent tribunal. Speaking at last year's U.S. Open, Sinner explained his decision to part ways with Ferrara and Naldi. "Now, because of these mistakes, I'm not feeling that confident to continue with them. I was struggling a lot in the last months. I was waiting for the result. The only thing I need right now is some clean air," he said. Ferrara, who had laid the blame for the incident on Naldi, worked with Sinner's compatriot, Matteo Berrettini, this year. Sinner, 23, had split with Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio, his trainer and physiotherapist, before Wimbledon.
