Jannik Sinner, the current World No.1 and the winner of 2024 US OPEN, is shaking things up in his team after a shocking doping scandal that almost derailed his career. The 23-year-old Italian has brought in two of Novak Djokovic’s former coaches, fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio, to join his backroom team.
Sinner's US Open win amidst doping Controversy
Sinner clinched his second Grand Slam title at the US Open earlier this month, but it wasn’t without some major drama. Just before the tournament started, he narrowly and luckily escaped a doping ban despite testing positive twice for clostebol, a muscle-building steroid.
The tribunal ruled that the positive tests were due to contamination from a bare-handed massage, allowing Sinner to compete while under investigation.The decision to clear Sinner sparked controversy, with critics like the outspoken Nick Kyrgios and some other players on the tour suggesting he received preferential treatment due to his status. The World Anti-Doping Agency is still reviewing the ruling and may appeal.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Sinner admitted,“It was and it’s still on my mind. It’s not that it’s gone, but when I’m on court, I try to focus on the game and handle the situation the best way possible.”
He thanked the support he got from fans and most players, despite the cloud hanging over him.
In a recent Instagram post, Sinner welcomed Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio to his team, saying, “Welcome to the team Marco and Ulises.”
Benvenuti nella squadra Marco e Ulises 💪🏼 pic.twitter.com/lxmvUsKeiL
— Jannik Sinner (@janniksin) September 16, 2024
Panichi, Badio with Djokovic
Panichi, who worked with Djokovic from 2017 until May this year, and Badio, who was with Djokovic until the end of 2022, bring a wealth of experience to Sinner’s camp. With his new team in place, Sinner is looking to move past the controversy and continue his rise in the tennis world.
Will this move bring any major changes to Jannik Sinner's game or is this just a PR stunt? Comment and let us know.
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Featured image credit to KENA BETANCUR. File is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
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