Jannik Sinner’s fitness coach says the World No.1’s three-month suspension has helped him “expand his mental sphere”

Jannik Sinner has been banned from training with other professionals on the court until April 13, less than a month before his comeback.

Jannik Sinner’s fitness coach says the World No.1’s three-month suspension has helped him “expand his mental sphere”

Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Podcast)

Jannik Sinner is gearing up for his return to the tour following his three-month suspension for doping. The Italian has been training alone with his team as he’s expected to make his comeback at the Italian Open, which begins on May 7. His current fitness coach, Marco Panichi, shares insights into the World’s No.1 preparation.

Panichi joined Sinner’s team in September after he had parted ways with his former fitness coach, who was involved in his doping case. Panichi had previously worked with Novak Djokovic for seven years in the same and has worked with several athletes in other sports. He has worked in the role for over thirty-five years.

In February, Sinner accepted a three-month suspension settlement after reaching an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for twice testing positive for clostebol in March last year. WADA appealed the doping case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) but decided to withdraw it after reaching an agreement with the Italian.

Panichi, who has been monitoring Sinner’s progress since the suspension, revealed in an interview that they are seeking to add a motivational aspect to his routine. He added that in trying to do so, they were seeking to expand his mental sphere.

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.

Marco Panichi said via Corriere Della Sera

Sinner recently revealed that he had to accept the suspension despite believing he was innocent of doping. Perhaps, that’s the most important thing about absence because without accepting it in good faith, the whole preparation process would never go well.

Marco Panichi says Jannik Sinner has used the suspension to rediscover himself

Jannik Sinner’s suspension has helped him accept his doping case. The Italian has also been training alone but will be allowed to train with other professionals on the court from April 13. Marco Panichi revealed that Sinner being away from the court has helped him rediscover himself ahead of his return.

Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

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.

Marco Panichi said

There’s still some uncertainty on what kind of player Sinner would return to the court as. The World No.1 was in top form before the suspension and had claimed the Australian Open before the suspension.

Jannik Sinner to mark his return to the court at the Italian Open

Jannik Sinner’s return to the court would be highly celebrated and also be debated. Current and former players have argued that his three-month suspension was too little compared to what others were given in the same doping case. The reception he receives will be one to watch out for, especially since he will play in front of his home country fans in Rome.

Jannik Sinner (7)
Jannik Sinner (Image via X/The Tennis Letter)

Besides that, Sinner will arrive at the Italian Open without a professional tennis match. Despite the claims that he’s training, a tournament match is completely different from that. Also, Sinner is known to always get better as the tournament progresses, particularly not in his earlier matches. He has proven it in many tournaments, including the Australian Open in January.

Attention will be given to the draw he is given at the Italian Open. Meeting tough players, who are good on clay might be a problem for him as he doesn’t have a good record on the surface. Last year, even at his peak, he didn’t reach a single clay court final.