Jannik Sinner’s ex-trainer reveals the person to blame for the Italian’s three-month suspension from the tennis tour
Jannik Sinner will complete his three-month doping suspension in May and will return to clay swing at the Rome Masters.
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Jannik Sinner (Image via ATP/X)
Jannik Sinner’s former physical trainer, Umberto Ferrara, spoke out on Thursday, claiming he is not responsible for the three-time Grand Slam champion testing positive for a banned substance. Sinner received a three-month ban in February after admitting partial responsibility for mistakes made by his team.
Ferrara, who had worked with Sinner before, placed the blame on the player’s former physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. Both Ferrara and Naldi were let go by Sinner after the issue came to light.
I simply suggested he use it because the wound he had on his finger was not healing and was hindering his work. I clearly explained the implications it had and that he could not come into contact with Jannik; in fact, I made him apply it in my bathroom. Considering all the warnings I gave him, I could not imagine he had treated Sinner without gloves. As soon as we found out that clostebol was the banned substance, I realized where it came from, and we were quickly able to explain everything that happened. In fact, I provided evidence of purchasing the spray myself at a pharmacy in Bologna. I have been hurt by how superficially this issue has been handled, even with ill intent, and what is clear to me is that I would not trust the behavior of others.
Umberto Ferrara said on Gazzetta Dello Sport
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accepted that Sinner was unintentionally contaminated with the banned substance clostebol by Naldi. Ferrara explained that he had used the same spray for years after it was prescribed by a doctor for an illness.
Ferrara also clarified that he was unaware that Naldi had used the spray on Sinner without gloves and without washing his hands afterward. Sinner’s suspension ends on May 4, allowing him to return for the French Open. He will then play the Italian Open and Hamburg, with the French Open set to run from May 25 to June 8.
Carlos Alcaraz hopes to catch up with Jannik Sinner during the clay season
Carlos Alcaraz is preparing for the upcoming clay court season with practice sessions at two locations near his home in Murcia. After a tough start to 2025, which included a strong win in Rotterdam but some disappointing results, he’s focusing on the upcoming challenges.
Alcaraz faced setbacks earlier this year, including a loss to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarter-finals and a surprising defeat to David Goffin in his first match at the Miami Open. Now, he’s turning his attention to clay courts, where he has the chance to improve his ATP ranking.
He missed the Monte Carlo Masters and the ATP 500 event in Barcelona last year due to an elbow injury. This year, he has a big opportunity to earn 1,500 ATP ranking points if he wins both tournaments, which would help him climb above Alexander Zverev into second place.
Alcaraz has only 200 ranking points to defend from last year’s clay season, with the 2,000 points from his French Open victory in June to defend when he arrives at Roland Garros. Having grown up playing on clay courts in Spain, Alcaraz is comfortable on the surface and recently trained at familiar venues, including Real Murcia Club de Tenis and La Manga Club.
Top players fail to capitalize on Jannik Sinner’s suspension
In 2024, Jannik Sinner dominated hard-court tennis. He had an outstanding 53-3 record and won seven titles, including two Grand Slams and three Masters 1000s. Top players like Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and Novak Djokovic all faced defeats at the hands of the Italian, with Zverev especially struggling after losing to Sinner in the Australian Open final.
However, Sinner’s dominance was briefly interrupted when he was suspended for a doping violation until May 4. This allowed other players to catch up in the rankings, especially with several hard-court events, including the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami. Players like Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, and Medvedev were expected to capitalize on this opportunity, but most of them had struggled by the end of March.
Alcaraz, ranked No. 3, couldn’t defend his title in Indian Wells and lost his first match in Miami to David Goffin. Medvedev, who considers himself a hard-court specialist, has had a tough year with a 12-7 record. He even criticized the softness and slowness of the balls used in Miami as a reason for his poor performance. Zverev admitted to rushing back onto the practice court too quickly after his loss in Australia, which he now regrets.
As the ATP tour shifts from hard courts to clay, many players are struggling to find their form. While some, like Andrey Rublev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, have had mixed results, others like Jack Draper, Holger Rune, and Denis Shapovalov are rising up. Even Novak Djokovic, who hasn’t had his best year, may have a chance to take advantage of the current uncertainty at the top of the rankings.
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