Umberto Ferrara just posted an emotional message on social media after watching Jannik Sinner win the 2025 ATP Finals. It’s the biggest title Sinner’s captured since controversially bringing his former fitness coach back to the team a few months ago.
When Sinner first fired Ferrara, most people thought that was it. Done. No way back.
The whole mess started at the 2024 Indian Wells Open. Ferrara gave Sinner’s physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi some cream for a cut finger. Problem was, the cream contained traces of clostebol, a banned substance.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner | 24 | 15,405 | 33 - 3 |
Naldi then gave Sinner massages without wearing gloves after using the product.
That’s how the 24-year-old ended up testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. Not exactly the way you want to make headlines when you’re trying to become world No. 1.
For a while, Sinner kept both guys on his team while officials investigated the whole thing behind closed doors. But just days before the 2024 US Open, he’d had enough.
He fired them both, saying he couldn’t trust them anymore after what happened.
The Djokovic Connection
A few weeks later, Sinner made some pretty interesting hiring decisions. He brought in Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio – both guys who’d worked with Novak Djokovic.
The physical improvements were obvious. Sinner looked stronger, fitter, more explosive on court.
That’s why everyone was so surprised when he split from them right before 2025 Wimbledon.
But that surprise was nothing compared to what came next.
The Shocking Return
Shortly after Wimbledon, Sinner did something nobody saw coming. He rehired Ferrara.
The tennis world went crazy. Many people thought it was completely disrespectful to the doping investigation process, especially since Sinner had already served a three-month ban earlier this season.
Instead of keeping quiet about the whole situation, Ferrara decided to share his feelings on Instagram. And he didn’t hold back.
"I’ve been in sports for many years, but I’ll never stop being amazed at how beautiful it is. Sport is commitment, dedication, sacrifice; it’s emotion, smiles, tears; it’s victory and defeat, joy and disappointment; it’s comparison with oneself and others; it’s a desire to improve, analytical skills, confidence in work."
He got even more personal in his next post:
"It’s suffering in the dark moments that leave you inside a pain that is hard to digest, but it is also believing in the possibility of getting up and starting again with enthusiasm."
You can really feel the emotion there. This guy went through some serious tough times.
The Berrettini Chapter
While Ferrara was away from Sinner’s team, Matteo Berrettini gave him a chance. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist hired him for a brief period.
Even that decision sparked controversy. A lot of people thought Ferrara should’ve been completely banned from tennis for his role in the doping mess.
But Ferrara was grateful for any opportunity to get back into the sport he loves.
In his latest Instagram post, he made sure to thank Berrettini. But he saved his biggest thanks for Sinner:
"It’s hard to condense it all into one post. This season (opened with the collaboration with Matteo [Berrettini], who I thank from the bottom of my heart) leaves me with so many unforgettable moments, which I was lucky enough to share with a fantastic team. Thanks to all of them but, above all, thanks to Jannik for the trust and the beauty of this common path."
Sinner’s Side
Sinner has mostly tried to avoid talking about rehiring Ferrara. When reporters pushed him about it in a press conference earlier this year, he gave a pretty brief explanation.
Basically, he knows some people are angry about his decision. And he’s accepted that’s just how it’s gonna be.
The whole situation shows how complex professional relationships can get in tennis. Trust, loyalty, second chances – it’s all pretty messy when you mix it with doping allegations and career pressures.
But right now, with the ATP Finals trophy in hand, both Sinner and Ferrara probably feel like they made the right choice.
