World Number One tennis sensation Jannik Sinner made headlines with a surprise coaching shake-up just before Wimbledon 2025. The Italian champion let go of his coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio prior to the prestigious Grand Slam event. Despite the major changes in his backroom team, Sinner triumphed at the All England Club by defeating World Number Two Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final. After the split, Sinner reunited with his former fitness coach Umberto Ferrara.
Initially, Sinner had brushed aside the decision to part ways with Panichi and Badio, calling it a routine transition and claiming that “nothing major” was the cause. However, recent revelations by Italian media outlet Corriere della Sera suggest otherwise. The report indicates that Sinner had been growing uneasy with Panichi’s conduct on and off the court, particularly over the alleged leaking of confidential team matters to the press.
One of the incidents that reportedly triggered the dismissal was Panichi’s revelation to the media about Sinner’s emotional breakdown after his loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Roland Garros, where he missed three championship points. According to the report, Panichi disclosed that Sinner cried in the locker room for 15 minutes and felt disheartened by the audience’s clear favoritism towards Alcaraz. This breach of privacy is said to have led to a serious rupture in trust between Sinner and his longtime coach.
Panichi and Badio, both formerly part of Novak Djokovic’s professional team, faced criticism for their alleged tendency to bypass internal team protocols—particularly those regarding unauthorized media communication. Panichi was viewed by insiders as a disruptive presence who frequently made statements without prior approval, violating team rules and causing friction within the camp.
Although Sinner initially downplayed the issue, he later acknowledged that trust had been compromised. “Communication and trust are everything in a professional team. We travel together for most of the year, and having the right team is crucial,” he said during an interview post-Wimbledon. The 23-year-old four-time Grand Slam winner emphasized the importance of maintaining team unity and transparency.
Following the coaching overhaul, Sinner reinstated Umberto Ferrara, who had previously exited the team during an investigation into failed doping tests. The tests were eventually ruled as the result of accidental contamination. His then-physio Giacomo Naldi had unknowingly used a spray containing clostebol, a banned substance, to treat a cut on Sinner’s finger and then massaged the player without gloves. Ferrara had been the one to procure the spray, leading to temporary concerns over his involvement. However, with that issue resolved, Ferrara has returned to play a key role in Sinner’s preparations going forward.
