Sinner reunites with fitness coach Ferrara after doping scandal
Since the revelation of Sinner's positive tests for the anabolic steroid clostebol, Sinner has constantly maintained his innocence, laying the blame squarely on his team.
Although he quickly dismissed Ferrara and his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi, after the revelation of his positive tests, Sinner still described the former as an 'excellent coach' on the sidelines of the ATP Finals in Turin in November 2024.
'Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach with immediate effect,' his new management team Avima announced in a brief statement.
'The decision has been made in alignment with Jannik's management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and US Open.
'Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level.'
Doping authorities accepted that it was accidental and imposed a three-month ban which Sinner served following his victory in the Australian Open in January.
He returned in time for the French Open where he lost an epic final to Carlos Alcaraz before beating the Spaniard in four sets to win his first Wimbledon title earlier this month. — AFP

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Malay Mail
5 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Prosecutors call for PSG's Achraf Hakimi to face rape trial
NANTERRE (France), Aug 2 — French prosecutors on Friday called for Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi to face trial for the alleged rape of a woman in 2023 which the Moroccan international denies. The Nanterre prosecutor's office told AFP that they had requested that the investigating judge refer the rape charge to a criminal court. 'It is now up to the investigating magistrate to make a decision within the framework of his order,' the prosecutor's office told AFP in a statement. Hakimi, 26, played a major role in PSG's run to their first Champions League title, the full-back scoring the opener in the 5-0 rout of Inter Milan in the final in May. Hakimi, who helped Morocco to their historic progress to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, was charged in March, 2023 with raping a 24-year-old woman. Hakimi allegedly paid for his accuser to travel to his home on February 25, 2023, in the Paris suburb of Boulogne-Billancourt while his wife and children were away on holiday. The woman went to a police station following the encounter alleging rape and was questioned by police. Although the woman refused to make a formal accusation, prosecutors decided to press charges against the player. She told police at the time that she had met Hakimi in January 2023 on Instagram. On the night in question she said she had travelled to his house in a taxi paid for by Hakimi. She told police Hakimi had started kissing her and making non-consensual sexual advances, before raping her, a police source told AFP at the time. She said she managed to break free to text a friend who came to pick her up. 'Attempted extortion' Contacted by AFP after Friday's development Hakimi's lawyer Fanny Colin described the call by prosecutors for a trial as 'incomprehensible and senseless in light of the case's elements'. 'We, along with Achraf Hakimi, remain as calm as we were at the start of the proceedings. 'If these requisitions were to be followed, we would obviously pursue all avenues of appeal,' she continued. According to Colin, her client had 'been the target of an attempted extortion'. 'Nothing in this case suggests an attempted extortion,' Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the woman, said. 'My client welcomes this news with immense relief,' she told AFP. 'We will not tolerate any smear or destabilisation campaign, as is unfortunately still too often the case for women who have the courage to report the rape of which they are victims,' she added. The son of a cleaning lady and a street vendor, both Moroccans who have lived in Spain since the 1980s, Hakimi was born in Getafe, a southern suburb of Madrid. Hakimi came through the youth system at Real Madrid before joining Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in 2018. He went on to make 73 appearances for the German club. He moved to Inter Milan in 2020 and then on to PSG in 2021 where he has established himself as an integral part of the team. In Qatar, Hakimi was a cornerstone of the Morocco team that became the first African or Arab nation to reach the semi-finals of a World Cup. — AFP


The Star
12 hours ago
- The Star
Soccer-Djokovic becomes a part-owner of Ligue 2 club Le Mans
FILE PHOTO: Tennis - Wimbledon - All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London, Britain - July 11, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic looks on during his semi final match against Italy's Jannik Sinner REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/ File Photo (Reuters) -Tennis great Novak Djokovic has become a part-owner of French Ligue 2 club Le Mans FC with former Formula 1 drivers Felipe Massa and Kevin Magnussen also acquiring stakes, the newly promoted club announced on Friday. The investment is led by Brazilian group OutField, an international consortium co-founded by Pedro Olivera, and includes Georgios Frangulis, CEO of global health-food brand OakBerry. "Djokovic, the most successful player in history, whose mental strength and unique approach will bring considerable added value," the club said in a statement. "Massa (15 seasons in Formula 1) and Magnussen (10 seasons), who will help create a bridge between football and motorsport – a distinctive strength of the Le Mans brand." Le Mans begin their Ligue 2 campaign on August 9, away at Guingamp. (Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)


Malay Mail
a day ago
- Malay Mail
Zverev rallies in Toronto to claim milestone 500th ATP match win
TORONTO, Aug 1 — Top seed Alexander Zverev switched into survival mode to claim a milestone 500th ATP match win on Thursday, fighting back to beat Matteo Arnaldi 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-2 at the Toronto Masters. Germany's Zverev broke twice in the deciding third set to reach the fourth round of the US Open tuneup, converting his second match point to back up his defeat of the Italian ealier this year in Acapulco. 'It's a great achievement,' Zverev, winner of 24 ATP titles, said of reaching 500 career match wins. 'Not a lot of player reach this milestone. 'But I still want 500 more — maybe even more,' he joked. 'You always want to win as many matches as possible. I'm all about this.' Unable to gain the upper hand in an 82-minute first set, Zverev said his game improved as the minutes dragged on against 2024 Canadian semi-finalist Arnaldi. 'I started playing better from the baseline and found my rhythm a bit. My backhand felt off but I was comfortable and happy with my level,' added Zverev who next faces Francisco Cerundolo — a 6-3, 6-4 winner over fellow Argentine Tomas Echeverry. Alex Michelsen reached a Masters 1000 fourth round for the first time with a 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 upset victory over third-seeded Lorenzo Musetti. The 20-year-old American survived nearly 50 unforced errors and converted just two of nine break chances, but it was enough to vanquish Italy's Musetti, a two-time Grand Slam semi-finalist ranked 10th in the world. 'It feels really good,' the 26th-ranked Michelsen said after finally converting his seventh match point. 'I've put in a lot of hard work and it's paying off a little bit. I was wondering when it would happen and I guess it is starting to happen right now. 'I returned really well today,' he added. 'I played offensive tennis and executed really well.' Michelson will face fellow American Learner Tien for a place in the quarter-finals. Tien beat compatriot Reilly Opelka 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. Fifth-seeded Holger Rune advanced with an efficient 6-2, 6-4 result over Frenchman Alexandre Muller. Ruud rallies Eighth-seeded Casper Ruud shook off a slow start to beat Portugal's Nuno Borges 7-5, 6-4. The Norwegian was playing only his fourth match since Roland Garros after missing Wimbledon because of injury. Trailing 4-1 in the first set, Ruud thwarted Borges's two chances for a 5-1 lead, methodically lifting his game and taking control with a late break before earning the lone break of the second set for his 20th win of the season. 'I just crawled into the first set,' said Ruud, who fired nine aces. 'I was able to get back into it. One break and things can happen. I raised my return game and got more balls back into play. 'In the second set I got the break and served my way through.' Despite his sluggish start, Ruud was delighted to beat Borges after falling to him at Roland Garros in May. 'It was nice to get my revenge,' said Ruud, who next faces 11th-seeded Karen Khachanov. Khachanov, seeded 11th defeated US qualifier Emilio Nava 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-1 to book his second Masters round of 16 spot this season. Ruud and Khachanov last played in a 2022 US Open semi-final won by the Norwegian. — AFP