Nick Kyrgios believes the tennis world has ‘been played’ after Jannik Sinner announced that he has reappointed his former coach, Umberto Ferrara, the fitness trainer who was inadvertently involved in the Italian’s doping suspension earlier this year.
The Australian firebrand has been a big critic of the men’s World No 1 since it was revealed in March 2024 that Sinner had twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol.
Sinner, 23, was initially cleared by an independent tribunal of wrongdoing in August 2024, claiming that the Italian ‘bore no fault or negligence’. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) later appealed that decision, with Sinner ultimately accepting a 90-day ban, which he served between February and May. He returned to action just before returning home for the Italian Open.
His exposure to the substance allegedly came after his coach, Umberto Ferrara, had bought a spray called Trofodermin in February. The drug can be bought over the counter and is generally used as a spray to treat cuts and abrasions. It also contains clostebol.
Giacomo Naldi, who had cut his left pinkie finger while using a scalpel in March, had administered the spray to himself at Indian Wells last year.
Sinner’s team said he had been simultaneously giving the 2025 Wimbledon champion full-body massages while not wearing gloves.
‘The physiotherapist treated Jannik and his lack of care, coupled with various open wounds on Jannik’s body, caused the contamination,’ Sinner’s team explained back in August 2024.
Nick Kyrgios (pictured) has made his feelings very clear over Jannik Sinner’s shock decision to reappoint his old coach
Sinner (right) has rehired Umberto Ferrara (left), the fitness coach who he fired for purchasing nasal spray that led to his three-month doping ban last year
Sinner accepted a three-month doping ban after he tested positive to a banned substance twice last year
Sinner suffers from a skin condition known as psoriasiform. The initial tribunal heard that the condition can cause irritation, cuts and sores. It was accepted by the ITIA as the reason why clostebol had entered Sinner’s system.
That same month, it was revealed that Sinner’s camp had decided to part company with both Naldi and Ferrara in the wake of the controversy. WADA argued that Sinner had not intended to cheat but ‘bore a responsibility for his team’s negligence’ as the two parties reached a settlement on the Italian’s sanction.
But in a surprise turn of events, Ferrara has been re-hired by the Sinner team, sending Kyrgios into meltdown.
‘He got the same doc back,’ the Australian wrote on X, adding several ‘laughing-face emojis’.
‘We have been played, ladies and gentlemen,’ he said, this time adding five ‘potato’ emojis.
It’s not the first time Kyrgios has hit out at Sinner this month.
After the 23-year-old bested reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz on Centre Court, Kyrgios took to social media to simply publish an asterisk – an apparent dig that Sinner’s victory should be caveated by the fact that he had accepted a doping suspension.
Last year, Kyrgios had blown up over Sinner and Iga Swiatek’s doping scandals, branding them ‘disgusting’.
Kyrgios was left baffled by Sinner’s decision to re-hire his old fitness coach, adding: ‘We have been played ladies and gentlemen’
It’s not the first time Kyrgios has hit out at Sinner this month. The Aussie took a subtle dig on X following Sinner’s victory at Wimbledon. He simply published an asterisk, an apparent dig that Sinner’s victory should be caveated by the fact that he had accepted a doping suspension
Sinner claimed his first Wimbledon title earlier this month after beating Carlos Alcaraz in the men’s singles final
Now, according to reports from the BBC, those close to Sinner say that he feels Ferrara has learned from his mistakes.
‘Tennis integrity right now, and everyone knows it but no one wants to speak about it, it’s awful,’ the Aussie said, claiming it was a ‘horrible look’ for the sport.
After axing his previous coaches, Sinner hired two new coaches, Marco Panichi and physio Ulises Badio in September 2024. Both were dismissed from his team earlier this summer.
Now, according to reports from the BBC, those close to Sinner say that he feels Ferrara has learned from his mistakes.
‘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,’ his team said in a statement, announcing that Ferrara would join up again with the Italian with ‘immediate effect’.
‘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.’
Prior to sacking both his former coaches, Sinner had praised both Naldi and Ferrara for their work over the years.
‘I want to start with [saying] that they have been a huge part of my career,’ Sinner said.
‘We made an incredible job, bringing a lot of success and then having a great team behind me.
‘Now, because of these mistakes, I’m not feeling that confident to continue with them.
‘I was struggling a lot in the last months. Now I was waiting for the result, and now I just need some clean air.’
