Nick Kyrgios calls out Jannik Sinner for re-hiring fitness coach sacked over doping ban
Nick Kyrgios has hit out at Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner over his decision to re-appoint the fitness coach he split with after last year’s positive tests for banned substance clostebol.
Umberto Ferrara was dismissed by the Italian world No 1 last year after the anabolic agent was found in his system inadvertently via massages from physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi at Indian Wells in March 2024.
Sinner served a three-month suspension earlier this year after agreeing to a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency in February but his suspension was criticised as being too lenient by critics like Kyrgios.
Following news of Ferrara’s re-hiring, Kyrgios, the 2022 Wimbledon finalist, wrote on X: “He got the same doc back. We have been played ladies and gentlemen.”
Wada appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, contesting an independent tribunal’s decision last August to clear Sinner of wrongdoing.
Sinner, who returned to action in May and lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final before beating him to win Wimbledon, said clostebol, which can build muscle mass, entered his system after Naldi applied an over-the-counter spray, given to him by Ferrara, to a cut on his own hand before carrying out treatments on Sinner.
“The decision has been made in alignment with Jannik’s management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and US Open,” a statement from Sinner’s team said.
“Umberto has played an important role in Jannik’s development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level.”
Sinner was cleared of fault or negligence by an independent tribunal.
Speaking at last year’s US Open, Sinner explained his decision to part ways with Ferrara and Naldi.
“Now, because of these mistakes, I’m not feeling that confident to continue with them. I was struggling a lot in the last months. I was waiting for the result. The only thing I need right now is some clean air,” he said.
Ferrara, who had laid the blame for the incident on Naldi, worked with Sinner’s compatriot Matteo Berrettini this year.
Sinner, 23, had split with Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio, his trainer and physiotherapist, before Wimbledon.
