Sinner mouthing off against coach and trainer: he said so in an interview.
The earthquake that shook his microcosm has left indelible traces. Not only because the very serious accusation of doping still hangs over him, but also because the affair related to the Clostebol positivity forced him to remove from his team two people who represented, for him, a great point of reference.
We are talking, of course, about Umberto Ferrara and Giacomo Naldi, who were put at the door in light of the responsibilities they unwittingly had in this ugly affair. Jannik Sinner certainly could not be left without an athletic trainer and physiotherapist, which is why he immediately ran for cover by hiring two professionals who could replace the two figures who suddenly went missing. He then threw the doors of his world wide open to Ulises Badio and Marco Panichi and, at least for the moment, everything seems to be running smoothly. Or maybe not.
In terms of performance, nothing has changed. The world’s No. 1 continues to win and overachieve as if nothing has changed, as if the ruling he is awaiting-scheduled for next April-is tickling him. It is not all sunshine and roses, however, at the “home” of the South Tyrolean champion, as is clear from the interview he gave shortly after defeating Alex de Minaur in just 3 sets and thus gaining access to the semifinals of the Australian Open.
Sinner vs. Panichi and Vagnozzi: words in the crosshairs
At the origin of this little “clash” are the words Simone Vagnozzi used to comment on his protégé’s victory over the Australian.
“We are happy, we had seen him better today (compared to the match against Rune, ed.) and then the weather, playing in the evening, played on our side. It was just a little discomfort, nausea and stomach ache, things that then got worse with the heat, but nothing to worry about. But he improved quickly and showed it on the field, going into monster mode, as the Romanaccio Panichi calls him.” It’s just too bad that, precisely, Jannik did not like these words too much.
When, later, Sky Sport asked Sinner if he liked that definition, “monster,” the Italian champion didn’t mince words: “I don’t know if I like it honestly,” he said, while smiling, “but certainly today was a very good match, where I tried to raise the level, so this is a very positive thing. Say anything to him, in short, but woe to call him a monster.
