 "Jannik Sinner poses with fitness coach Umberto Ferrara after winning the 2024 Australian Open in Melbourne. Reuters")
Jannik Sinner had rehired fitness coach Umberto Ferrara days after defeating Carlos Alcaraz to win his maiden Wimbledon title . And on Friday, the world No 1 defended his decision to bring Ferrara back into his team after firing him nearly a year ago in the fallout of his doping scandal.
Sinner had parted ways with Ferrara as well as physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi after testing positive for banned anabolic steroid clostebol in two separate tests during the Indian Wells Open last year. The Italian had claimed that Naldi had used an over-the-counter spray to treat a cut on his finger and then give him a massage, which had resulted in the positive test.
Everything is different now, insists Sinner
Though he was cleared by a tribunal, Sinner would serve a three-month ban between the Australian and French Opens this year. And while he has decided against bringing Naldi back into his team, Sinner has reunited with Ferrara in the build-up to the US Open .
“It was a different situation. Now everything is different. I felt like, at this point, I needed someone who knew my body better,” Sinner told reporters after defeating Canada’s Felix-Auger Aliassime at the Cincinnati Open quarter-finals on Friday.
“We worked together for about two years before this break. His work has brought me a lot of benefits.
“We worked on every area of my body: mobility, stability, and even my body’s endurance has improved. I think he did a great job," the 23-year-old added.
The decision to rehire Ferrara comes after Sinner recently parted ways with fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio.
“I also got along well with Marco (Panichi), but maybe he wasn’t the best choice. I’ve always had a good feeling about Umberto,” Sinner added.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Sinner, who will eyeing his second US Open title when the final Major of the year gets underway later this month, is currently on an 11-match winning streak and faces French qualifier Terence Atmane in the Cincinnati semi-finals next up.