Jannik Sinner 'Is Transformed' And Has 'Enormous Motivation' For Return Next Month
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Jannik Sinner's fitness coach, Marco Panichi, is confident that the ATP world No. 1 will perform strongly when he returns from his suspension and has outlined the work done to keep him sharp during his time off.
Sinner received a ban from February 9th until May 4th from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for testing positive for clostebol at the 2024 Indian Wells Open due to accidental contamination via his physiotherapist at the time.
WADA had appealed the International Tennis Integrity Agency's decision to clear him to the Court of Arbitration for Sport but ultimately decided to settle the case with Sinner's team, who accepted to avoid the possibility of a one or two-year ban.
Rather than feel disillusioned or only take time off while suspended, Panichi described to Corriere Della Sera how he and the rest of Sinner's team used it as a time to help him improve without thinking about tournaments and traveling.
"From the day we learned of the stoppage, the player, team, and management have had the same thought in unison: to make the most of this period. We knew right away that we could do a good job, studied and planned, not diluted and broken up by travel and tournaments as usual."
"We have transformed micro-cycles of work into macro-cycles, we have gone into thorough detail, we have dedicated a lot of time to acquiring data on Jannik, applying training modules to put him in a position to make another important leap in quality. From Rome onwards, this work will have to bear fruit."
Panichi said the work done was not limited to physical and technical aspects. He said they encouraged Sinner to try different things since expanding his mental awareness can be helpful.
"A lot, but not only in this particular period. Travel and planes can also create a routine. The motivational aspect is crucial: we constantly challenge Jannik with new opportunities, and we push him to do new things, new for him. Even simple ones: a game of golf, a visit to a museum."
"Expanding the mental sphere allows you to show up for fresher training. But it is equally true that a certain repetitiveness is useful for comparison, without running the risk of caging the player in something too monotonous. It is the variety in the work protocol that allows us to understand if we are doing well."
While Sinner has been working hard during the suspension, Panichi also revealed the three-time Grand Slam champion also took some time off to himself, and his fitness coach thinks he is now in a great place.
"In these three months, moreover, he has taken some time off for himself: he has rediscovered himself. Detoxification is underway. I’m very happy: on a mental level, he’s transformed. He will return to Rome with enormous motivation and important freshness."
Sinner admitted in previous interviews and press conferences that the case caused him much anxiety. However, the 23-year-old performed incredibly in the months after the case went public, winning the 2024 US Open and 2025 Australian Open.
The world No. 1 will return at the 2025 Italian Open next month. Daniil Medvedev expects Sinner's return to be fantastic for tennis and for him to perform well on home soil.
