‘We’ve been played’: Outrage as Jannik Sinner news rocks tennis world

Nick Kyrgios has led a wave of fury as tennis was rocked again by Jannik Sinner with an announcement made on Wednesday night.

Nick Kyrgios has led a wave of outrage as Jannik Sinner announced controversial high-performance coach Umberto Ferrara has returned to his team.

In news that has dropped the jaws of many commentators, Sinner’s new management group on Wednesday night announced the fitness coach has been re-hired 12 months after he was cut loose in the middle of the Italian’s doping storm.

The world number one received a three-month ban agreed with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in February after admitting “partial responsibility” for team mistakes.

Since the revelation of Sinner’s positive tests for the anabolic steroid clostebol, Sinner has constantly maintained his innocence, laying the blame squarely on his team.

Although he quickly dismissed Ferrara and his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, after the revelation of his positive tests, Sinner still described Ferrara as an “excellent coach” on the sidelines of the ATP Finals in Turin in November 2024.

It has been one drama after another inside Sinner’s inner circle. The four-time grand slam champ last month dumped fitness coach Marco Panichi and former physiotherapist Ulises Badio on the eve of Wimbledon without explanation.

Umberto Ferrara (front row, second from left) puts his arm around Jannik Sinner after his victory at the 2024 Australian Open. Pic: Michael Klein

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A quick reminder of last year’s events shows why so many have been shocked by Sinner’s announcement.

The official findings of the controversial doping investigation published by WADA found Ferrara was in possession of the banned substance and was the person who supplied the spray to Naldi to help the physiotherapist treat a cut on his hand.

According to WADA’s findings, Naldi then massaged Sinner without wearing gloves when traces of the banned substance were still on his skin.

Clostebol is an anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) derivative from testosterone and can be found in Trofodermin, which can be purchased without a prescription in Italy.

Ferrara has also refused to accept blame for the scandal, and in April, said Naldi was at fault.

Iga Swiatek and Jannik Sinner both negotiated three month doping suspensions. Photo by Thomas Lovelock/AELTC via Getty Images.

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Ferrara has yet to justify why he was knowingly carrying the banned substance other than to say it was for personal use.

The decision to replace the pair with Ferrara has gone down like a lead balloon.

Kyrgios, who has been one of Sinner’s biggest critics, posted on X on Thursday morning: “He got the same doc back. We have been played, ladies and gentlemen”.

His post included laughing-out-loud and potato (spud) emojis.

Aussie tennis great (and former Australian Open chief executive) Paul McNamee was also blown away.

“Jannik Sinner rehiring Umberta Ferrara has to be up there as one of the most astonishing PR moves in tennis history,” he posted on X.

“You can afford to hire anyone in the world. Why, oh why, Jannik?”

Nick Kyrgios of Australia. Photo by Rich Storry / GETTY IMAGES.

Outspoken social media tennis commentator Pavvy G also launched into a rant on X, calling the entire sport “corrupt”.

He responded to Kyrgios’ comment by writing: “He (Sinner) is constantly promoted and protected, and he’s lost all sense of reality and has delusions of grandeur. They think they are untouchable, it really does make a mockery of the ITIA (International Tennis Integrity Agency) and WADA for failing to ever sanction Ferrara, who knowingly had a banned performance-enhancing substance in his possession and ironically was Sinner’s head of anti-doping control, too. Unbelievable.”

He went on to post: “I wonder if Sinner’s PR team have realised what an almighty blunder that he has made yet? Look out for distraction tactics now. They will want to move on from this quickly, but I do fear the move to bring back Ferrara will have so much irreparable damage on the Sinner brand now.

Jannik Sinner raises his glass to toast during a press conference after winning the 2024 Australian Open. Photo by Vince CALIGIURI / TENNIS AUSTRALIA / AFP.

“Even some Sinner fans are shocked that he is bringing back Umberto Ferrara to his team.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Sinner has been badly advised, but I think this is their worst decision yet. Do they think they are untouchable now?

“I think Sinner’s team have finally pushed the limits. It’s outrageous tbh.”

Sinner at the US Open last year said he was not “feeling that confident to continue with them” when he gave Naldi and Ferrara the sack.

Now he has suddenly done a backflip.

“Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach with immediate effect,” his new management team Avima, announced in a brief statement.

“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.

“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.”

WADA divided the tennis world in February when doping authorities announced Sinner would serve a three-month doping ban that allowed him to return to the ATP Tour on May 4, well ahead of Roland Garros, which began on May 25.

Sinner returned to play Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final — a match widely regarded as one of the greatest in recent years.

Sinner got revenge on Alcaraz in winning the Wimbledon gentlemen’s final.

Originally published as ‘We’ve been played’: Outrage as Jannik Sinner news rocks tennis world