Jannik Sinner's sacked physio reveals their relationship after doping case drama
NewsMonday, 29 September 2025 at 13:45
Updated at Monday, 29 September 2025 at 14:23
Jannik Sinner's former physio, Giacomo Naldi, has opened up about what he thinks of the ATP world No. 2 after being fired by him last year.
Sinner twice tested positive for clostebol at the 2024 Indian Wells Open after being contaminated by massages from Naldi. He had used a spray for a cut finger, given to him by Sinner's physiotherapist, Umberto Ferrara, that contained traces of the prohibited substance.
Despite continuing to work with Ferrara and Naldi during the investigation into the matter, Sinner fired them when the case became public a few days before the 2024 US Open, claiming he could no longer trust them.
Sinner ultimately served a three-month ban after reaching a case settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency. He returned just before the 2025 Italian Open and did not miss any Grand Slams during his absence.
However, the four-time Grand Slam champion dramatically reversed course and rehired Ferrara after the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, sparking a backlash from fans who thought it completely disregarded the doping process.
Ferrara's reappointment without bringing Naldi back into the team raised the question of how Sinner's physiotherapist views the 24-year-old. It could have indicated a lingering animosity between them.
Naldi insists that is not the case. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he admitted the incident hurt him, but revealed that his relationship with Sinner remained good when the investigation into the case was ongoing.
"I never wanted to comment on what happened with the Sinner team, and I will continue not to. Even though it’s an incident that has hurt me, both personally and professionally."
"Even during the proceedings, we always had a good relationship. I’ve always behaved correctly; I’ve never sought publicity. These are the first official statements I’ve made since everything happened."
"At times, I’ve been put in the mouth with words taken from other contexts that have sparked social media hate and controversy. Unlike others, I never said anything about what happened, and I think my honesty was evident and appreciated."
Naldi says he still has a relationship with Sinner and has also seen the Wimbledon champion's coach, Darren Cahill, and Ferrara since being removed from the player's team.
"We talked, it was cordial, we shared private things. Beyond everything, the human relationship remains after a case that involved us, and it was just an unfortunate series of coincidences, and we are aware of that."
"I saw [Darren] Cahill, who has always been very kind, and I ran into [Umberto] Ferrara. I come from a basketball background, I’ve always tried to bring team spirit to the Sinner team, too, and that’s one of the things that was most appreciated. Even though the collaboration has ended, there’s no hard feelings. What happened can’t be changed, but we have to move on. Life goes on."
Regardless of one's view on the case's rights and wrongs and how it was handled, it will always be a part of Sinner, Naldi, and Ferrara's history. Based on his success since, Sinner seems to have moved on from the saga.
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