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Sinner hires Djokovic's ex-fitness coach after dope test row

AFP, Rome

Mon Sep 16, 2024 09:11 PM Last update on: Mon Sep 16, 2024 09:15 PM

Italy's Jannik Sinner hits a return to Britain's Jack Draper during their men's semifinals match on day twelve of the US Open tennis tournament at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, on September 6, 2024. Photo: AFP

Jannik Sinner has hired Novak Djokovic's former fitness coach Marco Panichi in the wake of the world number one being cleared despite testing positive twice for a banned substance.

"Welcome to the team," Sinner wrote on social media on Monday alongside a photo of himself with fellow Italian Panichi and newly-recruited physiotherapist Ulises Badio.

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The pair replace Umberto Ferrara and Giacomo Naldi respectively who Sinner parted ways with before his US Open triumph, after the two positive doping tests in March.

Sinner had explained that the slight traces of clostebol had originated from a spray used by a member of his staff to treat a cut finger.

The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted the explanation leading to a furious backlash from players including Australian Nick Kyrgios.

Panichi notably worked with compatriot Fabio Fognini, German Angelique Kerber and China's Li Na, before being part of Djokovic's team from 2019 to earlier this year.