Jannik Sinner made headlines after appointing two former members of Novak Djokovic's team, and the Italian sounds happy with how they are helping him.
Many players would lose some of their drive to improve after the incredible year Sinner has enjoyed, which has seen him win the US Open and the Australian Open, as well as become the world's No. 1 ranked player.
However, Sinner proved he is not afraid of making big decisions to enhance his game further by appointing two men who worked with Djokovic for a lengthy period and were on his team during some of his greatest triumphs.
Although adding two men who worked with one of his biggest rivals for Grand Slams was a notable move, appointing a fitness coach and a physiotherapist was also necessary due to the Italian's doping scandal.
Sinner felt he had no choice but to fire the previous men in those roles since the last fitness trainer bought and the physiotherapist used the spray that had the clostebol which led to Sinner's two failed tests.
The world No. 1 now faces an anxious wait after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against the International Tennis Integrity Agency's (ITIA) decision to clear him. WADA argues he bears more fault than the ITIA's investigation found.
Sinner will continue working hard with the new members of his team in the meantime. Marco Panichi is the 23-year-old's new fitness coach, having been a member of Djokovic's team from 2017 until May of this year.
The two-time Grand Slam champion hired Ulises Badio as his physiotherapist. He worked with Djokovic from 2017 until 2022, and the Serbian is known to have rated his abilities highly during their time together.
Sinner was asked at a press conference whether he hired the pair because of their experience with Djokovic. The reporter also said he felt the Italian had a similar body shape to the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Sinner admitted that Panichi and Badio's experience working with someone who was the world's No. 1 for so long played a role in their appointments, and he thinks they can help him see new things off the court.
"For sure they have a lot of experience, you know, in working with the world No. 1 for so, so many years. Also together, you know, Marco and Ulises, you know, working together, it's already a big help, because they know each other very well, which is for me very good, and very important also."
"For sure, they can help me, you know, especially a little bit off the court, trying to see new things and trying where we can improve as a player. They have a lot of experience."
The Italian acknowledged some similarities between him and Djokovic but also feels they are different in some areas, meaning he needs to find his own path with his team.
"We have some similarities, me and Novak, but at the end we are still different, so, you know, we have to try to adapt our, you know, whatever is best for me, and trying to understand. But this, it takes time, but I'm very happy to have them on my team."
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