In a significant career move, 23-year-old tennis star Jannik Sinner has enlisted the expertise of Marco Panichi, who previously served as the fitness coach for Novak Djokovic, now 37. This strategic decision follows a period of scrutiny for Djokovic, who was recently exonerated after testing positive twice for a prohibited substance.
Sinner took to social media to announce the new addition to his team, posting a photo alongside Panichi and his newly appointed physiotherapist, Ulises Badio. This reshuffle in Sinner’s support team comes after the departure of Umberto Ferrara and Giacomo Naldi, who exited prior to Sinner’s triumph at the US Open, a victory shadowed by his doping test results from March.
Addressing the doping controversy, Sinner explained that the positive tests for clostebol were linked to a topical spray used by his team to treat a finger injury. The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted this explanation, although it drew criticism from fellow players, including Australian Nick Kyrgios.
Marco Panichi is renowned for his extensive experience in the tennis world, having previously collaborated with notable players such as Fabio Fognini, Angelique Kerber, and Li Na. His tenure with Djokovic’s team spanned from 2019 until earlier this year, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Sinner’s camp.