Wimbledon champion and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner has re-appointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach, a surprising move given Ferrara’s prior dismissal in the wake of a doping investigation that led to Sinner’s three-month ban last year. The decision, confirmed by Sinner’s management on Wednesday, signals a significant shift in the Italian’s support staff as he prepares for the upcoming hard court season, including the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.
The Context of Ferrara’s Initial Departure
Umberto Ferrara, along with physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi, was previously part of Sinner’s team but was dismissed in August 2024. Their departure followed an investigation into Sinner’s positive tests for trace amounts of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol in March of last year.
Sinner was ultimately cleared of fault or negligence by an independent tribunal, which accepted his explanation that he had been inadvertently exposed to the substance. The Italian player stated that the clostebol entered his system after Naldi applied an over-the-counter spray, which Ferrara had provided, to a cut on Naldi’s own hand before treating Sinner without gloves. Following the incident, Sinner publicly stated, “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.” Ferrara briefly worked with fellow Italian player Matteo Berrettini after his separation from Sinner.
Recent Team Changes Pave the Way for Return
The re-hiring of Ferrara comes on the heels of other recent changes within Sinner’s extensive support team. Ahead of his successful Wimbledon campaign, Sinner parted ways with fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio. These changes left an opening that Ferrara now fills.
A Focus on Continuity and High-Level Performance
A statement released by Jannik Sinner’s team emphasized the rationale behind Ferrara’s return. “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 read. The team also noted that the decision was made in alignment with Sinner’s management as part of their preparations for upcoming significant tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.
Despite the previous controversy, Ferrara’s established history with Sinner appears to have been a key factor in his reappointment, prioritizing a familiar working relationship as the world No. 1 enters a critical phase of the season.
Sinner’s Enduring Coaching Structure
While fitness coaches play a vital role, Sinner’s primary coaching team of Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill remains intact. Vagnozzi and Cahill, who received the ATP Coach of the Year award in 2023, have been credited with Sinner’s significant rise to world No. 1 and his multiple Grand Slam titles, including the 2024 Australian Open and US Open, and the 2025 Australian Open and Wimbledon. Although there were initial speculations about Cahill reducing his travel schedule or potentially retiring at the end of 2025, reports suggest he will continue to guide Sinner into 2026, albeit with possibly altered terms. The integration of Ferrara into this established and successful team will be closely watched as Sinner aims to continue his dominant run.
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