"It was a different situation": Jannik Sinner shares reason behind re-hiring fitness coach Umberto Ferrara despite his alleged negligence in doping case

Italy’s Jannik Sinner has revealed the reason behind re-hiring his fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara. The 23-year-old, who is widely regarded as the best player in the world, parted ways with Ferrara after testing positive for the banned substance clostebol in two doping tests in March last year.

Sinner managed to escape any ban as the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) declared him innocent following a detailed hearing where his counsel claimed that the substance was available in the player’s sample because he came in close contact with his physio, Naldi, who used the spray for the treatment of a cut on his finger. Reportedly, that spray was recommended to him by Fererra.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against the ITIA’s verdict in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and demanded a two-year ban for the four-time Grand Slam winner. However, the issue finally came to a conclusion in February as WADA announced that they had reached an agreement with Sinner, which will result in the player remaining out of action for three months.

After lifting his fourth Grand Slam in London and the first-ever Wimbledon title in July, following a win over his closest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, in the final with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, Sinner’s camp announced the induction of Ferrera in his coaching staff. "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,” read the statement.

Sinner is currently taking part in the Cincinnati Open, where he cemented his spot in the quarterfinal after securing a thumping win in straight sets against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime with a score of 6-0, 6-2. With that result, Sinner only becomes the first player after Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal to win 25 or more consecutive matches on the hard-court.

Talking to the media after the match, Sinner was asked by journalist Ben Rothenberg about the reason behind inducting Ferrera back into the coaching staff, so soon after the doping controversy where the Italian was facing multiple years of ban. In response to that, Sinner stated that his decision was based on the premise that the situation has changed and that he needs someone in the coaching staff who is aware of how his body works.

“It was a different situation,” said Sinner. “Now everything is different. I felt like, at this point, I needed someone who knew my body better. 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. 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.”

In an interview right after the match, Sinner, who is also the defending champion in Cincinnati this year, spoke about how he was feeling after securing a spot in the semifinal for the second consecutive year. “The first rounds are never easy because you have to get used to the conditions and situation on court,” said Sinner. “After a few matches you know where you have to work on. It’s natural that we players feel better day after day. I’m very happy about that. Today I felt great on court. I think we saw that. But every day is gonna be different. I have to be very careful. Tomorrow is a day off. We try to have good reps in. Then we see what I can do in the semis.”