Kyrgios has once again unleashed his sharp tongue, leaving fans puzzled by Sinner's questionable actions and his fitness coach's involvement.

When Sinner lifted his first Wimbledon trophy this year, Kyrgios quickly reacted. The Australian player, who reached the Wimbledon final three years ago, posted a symbol—a star (*)—on the social media platform X. There were no words, just the symbol, but the message was clear. Kyrgios pointed to the lingering shadow over Sinner's historic victory as the world number one. What is this shadow? The doping scandal that erupted last year has now been reignited by Sinner's latest actions.

Just before this year's Wimbledon, Sinner parted ways with his fitness coach Panichi and physiotherapist Baddio. He has now rehired Umberto Ferrara, who was once his fitness coach. Ferrara had purchased a banned substance in Italy, which later related to Sinner's two positive doping tests. The timing of this decision has drawn significant attention, with many in the tennis community voicing their opinions.

Kyrgios has been one of the most vocal figures throughout this controversy, and he rejoined the discussion. He posted: “Unfortunately, this is not @TennisCentel.” (Note: Tennis Centel is a parody news account on X.)

With Ferrara back in Sinner's team, new questions are being raised. Journalist Pavvy G candidly stated on X: “They think they are untouchable, which is truly embarrassing for the ITF, as they have never punished Ferrara, knowing he possesses a banned substance. Ironically, he is still Sinner's anti-doping officer, which is unbelievable.”

In February 2024, Ferrara purchased Trofodermin in Bologna. This is an over-the-counter wound treatment, but it contains a banned steroid. A month later, Sinner tested positive for the same substance. Twice.

Nevertheless, world number one Sinner successfully appealed to overturn both provisional suspensions. In August 2024, an independent arbitration panel composed of the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled that Sinner had “no fault or negligence.” The case seemed to be closed, at least on the surface. Sinner's team explained that it was all a misunderstanding. His physiotherapist Nardi had used the spray purchased by Ferrara to treat a wound on his hand. Afterward, he treated Sinner's foot and gave him massages. It was through this process that the steroid may have been transferred to Sinner.

At a press conference before the 2024 US Open, Sinner addressed the issue. He said: “I’m not very confident about continuing to work with them.” This seemed to imply the end of their partnership. However, the controversy did not stop there. Although Sinner was cleared of suspicion, the World Anti-Doping Agency did not relent. They planned to appeal the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). However, before the appeal was formally heard, both parties reached a private settlement, and the four-time Grand Slam champion ultimately accepted a three-month suspension.

Earlier this year, Ferrara also spoke out publicly. What did he say? Umberto Ferrara began working with Jannik Sinner in 2022 until the suspension occurred. In April of this year, he defended himself in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. He explained that he had been using Trofodermin for years to treat a chronic condition, saying, “I clearly told Nardi about the nature of this product, making it clear that it should not come into contact with Sinner for any reason.”

He further stated: “I suggested he use it because the wound on his finger had not healed and was affecting his training. I only allowed its use in my private bathroom. Nardi did not deny that I mentioned this, but he said he didn’t remember.”

Although Sinner withdrew from the Canadian Open in Toronto, he has not publicly commented on Ferrara's return. However, his team released a statement: “Umberto has played an important role in Jannik’s development, and his return reflects a renewed focus on consistency and high-level performance.” The statement also mentioned: “This decision was made in collaboration with Jannik's management team as part of the preparations for upcoming events, including the Cincinnati Open and the US Open.”

With Ferrara back in the spotlight, this chapter of Sinner's career is far from calm. Questions are unlikely to dissipate in the short term. Do you think world number one Sinner made the right decision in rehiring Ferrara? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments.(Source: Tennis House, Author: Spark)