Jannik Sinner’s fitness coach says the World No.1’s three-month suspension has helped him ‘expand his mental sphere’
Jannik Sinneris gearing up for his return to the tour following his three-month suspension for doping. The Italian has been training alone with his team as he’s expected to make his comeback at the Italian Open, which begins on May 7. His current fitness coach, Marco Panichi, shares insights into the World’s No.1 preparation.
Panichi joined Sinner’s team in September after he had parted ways with his former fitness coach, who was involved in his doping case. Panichi had previously worked with Novak Djokovicfor seven years in the same and has worked with several athletes in other sports. He has worked in the role for over thirty-five years.
In February, Sinner accepted a three-month suspension settlement after reaching an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for twice testing positive for clostebol in March last year. WADA appealed the doping case to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) but decided to withdraw it after reaching an agreement with the Italian.
Panichi, who has been monitoring Sinner’s progress since the suspension, revealed in an interview that they are seeking to add a motivational aspect to his routine. He added that in trying to do so, they were seeking to expand his mental sphere.
The motivational aspect is crucial: we constantly challenge Jannik with new opportunities, and we push him to do new things, new for him. Even simple ones: a game of golf, a visit to a museum. Expanding the mental sphere allows you to show up for fresher training. But it is equally true that a certain repetitiveness is useful for comparison, without running the risk of caging the player in something too monotonous. It is the variety in the work protocol that allows us to understand if we are doing well.
Marco Panichi said via Corriere Della Sera
