Jannik Sinner’s Fitness Coach Says Doping Ban Turned into a Blessing in Disguise
Jannik Sinner’s fitness coach, Umberto Panichi, has shared a surprising silver lining to the Italian star’s recent doping suspension, revealing that the enforced break became a valuable opportunity for growth and improvement.
“From the day we found out about the suspension, everyone — the player, the team, and management — was on the same page: we wanted to make the most of this period,” Panichi said. “Without the constant interruptions of travel and tournaments, we were able to focus, plan thoroughly, and work without dilution.”
Panichi emphasized that while no one was pleased about the ban, the team embraced the situation as a chance to reset and refine Sinner’s development.
“It’s not like we were happy about Jannik’s suspension — obviously not,” he clarified. “But we took a proactive approach. We shifted from short training cycles to longer, more intense ones. We got into the nitty-gritty, collected a ton of data on Jannik, and implemented training methods aimed at helping him take that next major leap. From the Italian Open onwards, we expect those efforts to show results.”
With his suspension ending in May, Sinner is set to return to action at the Italian Open, marking a highly anticipated comeback after months of focused training and preparation.
