'Had to be something': Andy Roddick weighs in on Jannik Sinner's decision to shuffle coaching staff ahead of Wimbledon

Former world number one Andy Roddick has shared his views about Italy’s Jannik Sinner’s decision to make changes in his support staff. It was recently reported that Sinner has decided to part ways with his fitness trainer, Marco Panichi, and physiotherapist, Ulises Badio.

The decision came as a surprise as it was made just days before the start of the French Open. Former US Open champion Roddick has recently spoken on his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick, about the development, stating that Sinner's decision to remove two experienced professionals from his coaching staff was a ‘weird’ move, considering it was done so close to a Grand Slam.

“That’s a really weird thing to do, yeah. On the eve of Wimbledon, you wouldn’t. [It] had to be something,” he said. “I don’t know anything, but my guess would be that it has to be something off court, whether it’s financial, whether it’s an argument. This doesn’t feel like what you would do when you’re trying to win your first Wimbledon. This also sounds like it could be something that we will never know the answer to, at least publicly.”

Earlier, Novak Djokovic also expressed his surprise after hearing about the development. “I did work with Marco and Uli, and I think they are phenomenal professionals that both have contributed also a lot to me, to my team, to my success,” he said. “I don’t know what the reasons are for the split with Jannik. It came as a surprise to me as well because I think Jannik’s game and body really has improved so much in the last year, year and a half. They’ve been an integral part of that team. I don’t know, to be honest. But changes happen.”

Sinner will be hoping that shuffling the coaching staff will bring him luck at Wimbledon, which remains the only Grand Slam where he has never played in the final. His best outing while playing in the competition came in 2023, when he lost to Djokovic in the semifinals in straight sets with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 7-6. Sinner will begin his campaign this year with a match against fellow Italian Luca Nardi.