There has been plenty of change within the coaching and fitness team of Jannik Sinner.
The Italian parted ways with physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi due to his role in Sinner testing positive for banned substance clostebol.
Sinner is also set to lose his coach Darren Cahill, who will leave the team at the end of the 2025 ATP tennis season.
But his most recent change has seen him bring back a former team member as he aims to successfully defend the Cincinnati and US Open titles.
Jannik Sinner says he rehired fitness coach Umberto Ferrara because he ‘always had a good feeling’ about him
Umberto Ferrara worked as Jannik Sinner’s fitness coach until last August, when he left the team five months after the world number one tested positive for clostebol.
He left around the same time as Naldi, who applied over-the-counter healing spray on a wound, which contained clostebol. But Sinner has now opted to bring Ferrara back to the team during the North American hard court swing, according to UBI Tennis.
Ferrara is back on Sinner’s team with immediate effect and at the Cincinnati Open, the 23-year-old explained why he has returned.
“It was a different situation. Now everything is different. I felt like, at this point, I needed someone who knew my body better,” he said.
“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.”
Jannik Sinner is ‘feeling good’ at the Cincinnati Open as Umberto Ferrara watches on
Ferrara was straight back into work as he was pictured in Sinner’s team wearing sunglasses as he watched him play at the Cincinnati Open.
He has yet to drop a set in Ohio and his most recent performance against Felix Auger-Aliassime was his best of the tournament so far.
Sinner lost just two games against the Canadian as he stormed into the semi-finals, where he will face qualifier Terence Atmane, who knocked out Taylor Fritz and Holger Rune.
“Today I felt great on court,” Sinner said after beating Auger-Aliassime. “I think you saw that but every day is going to be different.
“Tomorrow is a day off, which is good for me. We will try and put some reps in and then see what I can do in the semis.”
