'Nothing major happened': Jannik Sinner downplays team shake-up days before Wimbledon

Jannik Sinner addressed the changes he made to his physical preparation team just days before the start of Wimbledon. The Italian had movements within his staff, two who joined precisely after the doping controversy erupted.

Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio will no longer be part of the World No. 1's team. Both had joined the team in September 2024, after Sinner dismissed Umberto Ferrara and Giacomo Naldi for their responsibilities in the contamination he suffered which eventually led to his doping ban this year.

For now, Sinner's working team consists of coaches Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill, in addition to osteopath Andrea Cipolla. With two fewer members on his team, Sinner is preparing for the third Grand Slam of the year without confirmed replacements and avoided giving clear explanations for the reason.

"Nothing major happened, nothing big happened. I parted ways not long ago. But it has not affected me. I feel ready to compete. I feel free. I feel me and my team, we are ready to do the best we can."

The Italian acknowledged that the end of the relationship occurred after the Halle Open, where he was defeated in the second round by Alexander Bublik. During this week leading up to Wimbledon, he worked without his physiotherapists. "The timing obviously isn’t the best, but having done a lot of work (together) before, it won’t affect this Grand Slam a lot. I feel well physically and mentally and ready to compete.”

"As I said, there is not one specific thing. Nothing crazy happened. For sure, not. We made some great work. For me the final in Roland Garros was an amazing achievement. That's it,” the 3-time Grand Slam champion added. "In this sport, things can happen. There is nothing incredible odd because sometimes a player feels something different. And that is my case."

The World No. 1 will have a chance for revenge in a Grand Slam starting this Tuesday, when he returns to the court at Wimbledon. The Italian reached the semifinals in 2024 – falling to Alcaraz – and will come with a hunger for revenge after being defeated in the Roland Garros final a few weeks ago. Sinner faces his compatriot Luca Nardi in his debut.