World No.1 Jannik Sinner has been dealt a major blow ahead of Wimbledon, with two critical members of his backroom team departing just days before the tournament begins. The 23-year-old Italian star, who is aiming to capture his first Grand Slam title on grass, will now need to adapt swiftly to the disruption.
Key staff exit ahead of SW19 opener
On Friday, Sinner learned he would face fellow Italian Luca Nardi in the first round at SW19. But just hours later, news emerged that his trainer Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio had parted ways with the reigning Australian Open champion.
The timing couldn’t be more challenging for Sinner, who had hired the duo in September 2024 following a controversial doping incident that led to staff changes. Panichi and Badio played a crucial role in Sinner’s resurgence, guiding him to defend his Australian Open title and reach the final at Roland Garros earlier this year.
Fallout from the clostebol controversy
Panichi and Badio had replaced Umberto Ferrara and Giacomo Naldi in the aftermath of the Clostebol scandal. Sinner served a three-month ban after testing positive for the banned substance, though governing bodies accepted his explanation that it entered his system unintentionally. It was alleged that Naldi used Clostebol on a cut on his own hand before giving Sinner a massage.
Despite clearing his name, the incident prompted Sinner to restructure his team. However, this latest exit has once again left his support setup in flux.
No official word yet
As of now, neither Sinner nor his team have issued a public explanation regarding the sudden departure of Panichi and Badio. According to Sky Italy, a formal statement is expected later tonight to shed light on the situation.
Heading into Wimbledon, Sinner will rely solely on coaches Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill. Osteopath Andrea Cipolla has also traveled with him to London.
A challenging draw awaits
Sinner could face a stern test in his quest for a Wimbledon breakthrough. He shares the same half of the draw as British contender Jack Draper and may face a potential blockbuster semi-final against seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.
His only grass-court match this season ended in an early exit at the Halle Open, where he fell to eventual champion Alexander Bublik.