The stunning move from the World No.1 has raised plenty of eyebrows.
Jannik Sinner has reportedly split with two members of his team just days before Wimbledon, a stunning move from the World No.1 that has left the tennis world gobsmacked. Sky Sports and Italian news outlet Gazzetta are reporting that athletic trainer Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio are no longer part of Sinner’s team, and neither was seen at his training session on Friday.
No official reason has been given for the high-profile departures. Panichi and Badio had both previously worked with 24-time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic, and joined Sinner’s team at the end of 2024 to replace Umberto Ferrara and Giacomo Naldi.
Getty
Naldi was responsible for inadvertently contaminating Sinner with banned drug Clostebol, which saw the Italian star cop a three-month ban. Sinner successfully argued that Naldi transferred the substance into his system when he gave him a massive without gloves after using a spray containing Clostebol on a cut on his own finger.
Panichi and Badio helped Sinner win the Australian Open in January before he cut a deal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport for a three-month suspension. Sinner has since returned to the tour and finished runner-up at both the Italian Open and French Open – both to Carlos Alcaraz.
Alex de Minaur could face Novak Djokovic
Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur has been put on a collision course with Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon last 16 after the draw threw up the intriguing prospect of the pair enjoying the duel that got away last year. De Minaur and Djokovic had been scheduled to meet in the quarter-finals of the 2024 event, but the Australian had to pull out with a hip injury.
However Friday’s draw at the All England Club raised the prospect of a fourth-round meeting between the pair this year, if they can both negotiate fairly kind-looking opening weeks. De Minaur will begin his campaign against Spanish clay-court veteran Roberto Carballes Baena, and could meet fellow Aussie Adam Walton in the second round if the Queenslander can beat French qualifier Arthur Cazaux.
De Minaur’s most likely third-round opponent would be Czech 21st seed Tomas Machac, while the main early danger to seven-time champion Djokovic could be American Alex Michelsen (30th seed) in the last-32. De Minaur looks the best hope of a 17-strong Australian singles contingent at Wimbledon, the country’s biggest in 30 years.
However Jordan Thompson, whose back injury is just the latest in a catalogue of ailments in 2025, revealed on Friday he’ll make a late decision on his fitness before his scheduled clash against Czech Vit Kopriva on Monday. Thompson admitted he might need to take the rest of the year off even if he can compete at Wimbledon.
Who the Aussies face in Wimbledon opening round
MEN:
(11) Alex de Minaur v Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP)
(20) Alexei Popyrin v (WC) Arthur Fery (GBR)
Jordan Thompson v Vit Kopriva (CZE)
Aleksandar Vukic v Chun-Hsin Tseng (TPE)
Rinky Hijikata v David Goffin (BEL)
Chris O’Connell v (Q) Adrian Mannarino (FRA)
Adam Walton v (Q) Arthur Cazaux (FRA)
James Duckworth v (25) Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)
James McCabe (Q) v Fabian Marozsan (HUN)
Alex Bolt (Q) v (10) Ben Shelton (USA)
WOMEN:
(16) Daria Kasatkina v Emiliana Arango (COL)
Kim Birrell v (22) Donna Vekic (CRO)
Maya Joint v (19) Liudmila Samsonova (RUS)
Ajla Tomljanovic v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
Olivia Gadecki v Greet Minnen (BEL)
Talia Gibson (Q) v Naomi Osaka (JPN)
Priscilla Hon (Q) v (18) Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS)