Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has brought back Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach, nearly a year after dismissing him due to his involvement in a doping case that resulted in Sinner serving a three-month ban. The rehiring follows Sinner’s recent removal of fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio from his team.“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 announced on Wednesday.The doping case emerged when Sinner tested positive twice for trace amounts of an anabolic steroid, Clostebol, in March last year. The case wasn’t revealed until August, shortly before his US Open victory.Initially, Sinner was cleared of wrongdoing based on his defense that he was accidentally exposed to the banned substance through a massage from his then-physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. Ferrara had purchased a product in Italy and given it to Naldi for a cut on Naldi’s finger, who then treated Sinner without wearing gloves.
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Following the incident, Sinner dismissed both Naldi and Ferrara. Ferrara subsequently worked briefly with another Italian player, Matteo Berrettini.The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed Sinner’s exoneration, leading to him accepting a three-month ban that concluded before the Italian Open in May this year.Sinner, fresh from his Wimbledon triumph this month, is scheduled to return to competition at the Cincinnati Open next month, where he will prepare to defend his U.S. Open title.The changes in Sinner’s support team mark a significant shift in his professional setup as he continues his career at the highest level of tennis.
