Jannik Sinner Reunites With Coach Tied to Banned Doping Spray

A three-month doping ban has not deterred Jannik Sinner from success on the tennis court. It also didn’t stop him from reuniting with one of the coaches at the center of the controversy. 

The world No. 1 men’s tennis player reappointed fitness coach Umberto Ferrara, almost a year after firing him and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi in August, after Sinner returned two positive tests for the banned substance clostebol. 

“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’s team said in a statement.

Sinner said the clostebol came from a spray administered by Naldi. Ferrara provided the spray to Naldi, though he said he warned Naldi not to use it on the Italian tennis star.

An independent tribunal ruled that Sinner bore “no fault or negligence” for the positive tests, but the World Anti-Doping Agency imposed a three-month ban on Sinner in February. The timing allowed Sinner to return by the Italian Open, his home tournament. He did not miss a single Grand Slam.

Sinner has continued his on-court dominance since his return, finishing as a runner-up at Roland-Garros in June following a historic final match with Carlos Alcaraz, but avenged his loss at the Wimbledon final earlier this month.

Wimbledon Expansion Win

Wimbledon’s expansion plans got a jolt Monday after London’s High Court rejected a challenge by Save Wimbledon Park on the planning permission granted to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) by the Greater London Authority.

AELTC’s project would add 39 courts, upping the total to 71, which would be twice as many as the US and Australian Open grounds. The expansion would take shape in the 2030s.

The battle is not yet over, however, as there will be another hearing in January regarding the use of the land, which AELTC had previously agreed would be used for leisure or recreational purposes.