Jannik Sinner heads to Wimbledon as, unsurprisingly, one of the outstanding favourites to lift the title.
When you are as talented and relentlessly successful as he is, that should come as no surprise.
The current world number one and defending US Open and Australian Open champion, the Italian has returned from his three-month hiatus from the sport with a vengeance.
And yet, it was once again Carlos Alcaraz who emerged to end his remarkable run at the French Open, coming from two sets to love down to retain his title.
Alas, Jannik Sinner must dust himself off; tennis waits for no one.
However, his preparation for Wimbledon has been dealt a further blow as some shocking news emerged earlier this week.
Jannik Sinner makes bold change to coaching team ahead of Wimbledon
Stability is of paramount importance for tennis players, and that is important in every factor of their lives, be it diet, routine, coaching team…
So, to see that Sinner had split with two members of his coaching staff just hours after the Wimbledon draw had been made unsurprisingly shocked many.
It seemed a strange, erratic move for someone usually so calm and measured, suggesting that something deeper is going on behind the scenes.
And, when asked about his decision to part ways with Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio in his press conference, he claimed: ‘Nothing major happened. Nothing big happened. I parted ways not long ago, but it’s not affecting me. I feel ready to compete. I feel free. I feel me and my team, we are ready to do the best we can.
‘So I’m here to play good tennis. I think that’s my main goal, the main reason why I’m here. We’ve reached incredible results in the past with them, so obviously huge thanks to them.
‘We did a great job, but I decided to do something different. Yeah, it’s going to be interesting to see what I can do here in London.’
He then revealed that the decision had been made just after Halle.
Jannik Sinner’s physical performance has skyrocketed
It seems really strange that Sinner would make this move, especially given how his physicality has improved since this duo were brought in.
Hired in September 2024, the former Novak Djokovic team members clearly had a big impact on the 23-year-old.
They not only helped turn him into a physical powerhouse capable of striking the ball more purely and consistently than anyone on tour, but they also nursed him back to full fitness after his three-month ban from tennis.
He returned in Rome, and instantly cruised into the final.
Then, at the very next event, he once again made it all the way to the final in Paris too.
Clearly, there is a story to be uncovered here, but one that we likely will not know until one of Panichi or Badio speaks out.
But, to make such a bold move and spark such unrest on the eve of Wimbledon could certainly be seen as a big risk for Sinner to make, and an unnecessary one at that.
