Marco Panichi inspired by the thrill of the tennis competition after getting hired by Jannik Sinner
Marco Panichi is set to work with World No.1 Jannik Sinner after spending almost seven years with Novak Djokovic.
Marco Panichi, Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner (via X)
Newly hired Jannik Sinner‘s fitness coach, Marco Panichi, was hired by the World No.1 earlier this month following a decision to shake up his coaching staff. The decision to change the coaching team came after Sinner’s controversial doping scandal on the eve of the US Open.
The right-hander tested positive twice for banned steroids but avoided any suspension from tennis authorities. The change will be a fresh start for Jannik Sinner. As such, Panichi recently spoke about what it means to get back to the sport he loves the most.
It’s incredible to see, after so many years of competition, the adrenaline still present, the confirmation that the work is paying off or not… And to see how much sport can excite you as if it were the first day. Thank you for all this.
Marco Panichi said (H/T: Punto de Break)
World No. 1 Sinner subsequently fired both his fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara, and his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. The duo faced heavy criticism due to this development. After Sinner’s US Open triumph, the Italian added Panichi as his fitness trainer and Ulises Badio as his physiotherapist.
Marco Panichi has extensive experience on the ATP Tour, having previously worked with former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic. The Italian coach spent seven years with the 24-time Grand Slam champion, from 2017 to 2024.
Jannik Sinner sees room for improvement despite a standout 2024 season
Jannik Sinner’s 2024 season has been exceptional. The 23-year-old Italian has won six titles, including his first two Grand Slam victories at the Australian Open and the US Open. He reached a career milestone in June by becoming World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Nevertheless, he has made it clear that he must improve.
I have to improve a couple of things, which already me and my coach in the US Open swing needed to improve. We worked on that and also the physical shape. We tried to improve. We are working a lot on the serve. We changed a couple of things there. Obviously, the motion I have now is slightly different and new, so I have to get used to it.
Jannik Sinner said in his post-match press conference
Despite his incredible success this year, Sinner feels he can still improve. He aims to take his game to the next level, starting with the China Open in Beijing. Earlier this season, a hip injury affected his form, but Sinner pushed through and won the Cincinnati Open, defeating Top 10 players Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev.
At the US Open, Sinner was dominant. He beat 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals and American No. 1 Taylor Fritz on his way to the title. With this victory, Sinner became just the fourth man since 1988 to win both hard-court Grand Slams in the same year, joining Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Mats Wilander.
One of Sinner’s biggest strengths has been his serve. At the US Open, he won 87.5% of his service games. This continued a strong trend, as he has won 90.7% of service games since September 2023. Sinner is determined to keep improving and build on this momentum.
Fahad Hamid
(314 Articles Published)