Jannik Sinner 'didn't want to fire coach' after drugs case as trainer rejoins team

A retired Italian tennis player has suggested that Jannik Sinner never wanted to get rid of fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara in the wake of his anti-doping case last year. The world No. 1 was found to have "bore no fault or negligence" after proving the tests were the result of contamination.

Sinner received massages from his then-physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, who treated a cut on his own finger with a medical spray named Trofodermin, which contained clostebol. Ferrara purchased the spray and gave it to Naldi. The Italian axed both of them from his team.

The four-time Major winner went on to hire Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio, who previously worked with Novak Djokovic. However, they left his team ahead of Wimbledon this year, and Sinner lifted the title at SW19 without a fitness trainer or physio.

Earlier this week, Sinner announced that Ferrara would be rejoining this team. And former doubles world No. 25 Diego Nargiso, who knows Ferrara well, believes Sinner only got rid of him last year out of "necessity".

"I was very surprised by his return to the team. It's a courageous choice on Jannik's part, it confirms his determination: he knows how Umberto works, and he wants to continue along the path," Nargiso told Repubblica.

"I believe that then it was an act that was more necessary than desired. Maybe someone had done something negligent, but I know Umberto: he is a very attentive, scrupulous person, a great professional.

"Jannik wanted him back with him, rightly going beyond the chatter and controversies of some envious people."

Ferrara returned to Sinner's team with immediate effect on Wednesday. The world No. 1 has opted to skip the upcoming Canadian Open but is expected to return to competition in Cincinnati, where he is the defending champion.

Announcing his old fitness coach's return in a statement, Sinner said: "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 the 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."

There will be another minor change in Sinner's coaching camp for the North American swing as one of his coaches, Darren Cahill, is set to take a brief break and won't be joining Sinner at the US Open.

His other coach, Simone Vagnozzi, will still be there. Cahill was meant to leave Sinner's team at the end of the 2025 season. But he will now stay on and is set to continue his role in 2026 on a reduced schedule.

Sinner and Cahill had a hilarious deal if he won Wimbledon. "We made a bet before the final, I told him that if I won, I could choose whether he could stay or not at the end of the year. Now the choice is mine!" the 23-year-old said hours after lifting the trophy.

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