Jannik Sinner celebrates with his team, including Giacomo Naldi (front left) and Umberto Ferraro (front, 2nd from left). These two are no longer part of the Sinner entourage. © AFP / LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA

After being kicked out: Sinner’s physio breaks his silence

The Jannik Sinner doping case dominated the headlines last week. In addition to the tennis star, the focus was also on his physiotherapist, who has now been fired - and has spoken out for the first time in an emotional letter on Instagram.

August 25, 2024

From: det

Giacomo Naldi is actually a man who keeps himself in the background. The tennis world only occasionally got to see the 33-year-old when he sat in Jannik Sinner's box. Rather, his focus as the Sexten superstar's personal physiotherapist was on looking after his protégé before and after matches. But in the last few days, Naldi inevitably moved into the spotlight. After the doping chaos, Sinner separated from him, as well as from athletic trainer Umberto Ferrara.

The reason is obvious: Naldi treated a wound on his finger with a spray that contained the banned steroid clostebol. During subsequent massages, the substance entered Sinner's bloodstream, resulting in two positive doping tests and a huge fuss. Naldi had received the spray from Ferrara - and so the two had to leave the Sinner team.

For one and a half years, Naldi (left) was Sinner’s physiotherapist.

On Instagram, Naldi has now commented on the story for the first time - and found clear words. "So it is really true that there are two kinds of justice. The true one, which is determined by the courts, and the (unfortunately more effective) one determined by the media. The latter is too often superficial and rarely based on concrete facts, which in this case are also publicly available," begins the long post on Instagram.

Settling accounts with the media

Naldi continues: "As a spectator, I have always wondered what the goal of sensationalism is, other than to judge, to create or destroy people and to damage their reputation. Today, as I am affected myself, I have confirmation of this!" The physiotherapist then looks back on his journey with Sinner.

“Good luck for the future, Jannik. You are a real champion.” Giacomo Naldi

"A year and a half ago, I became part of this fantastic team, made up of great people, outstanding professionals and companions. With them, I have experienced moments of joy and pain, shared emotions, tasted victories and defeats. With these people, I have built a strong bond, but above all, I have been able to achieve historic milestones that have put us in the history of Italian tennis." Naldi is referring to Sinner's win at the Australian Open, among other things.

Check out this post on Instagram

A post shared by Giacomo Naldi (@giacomonaldi)

Then Naldi gets emotional. "I'm proud to have been part of this great team, knowing that I gave my best, that I was 100 percent professional, but also that I gave more - because if you put your heart and soul into it, you'll definitely give more. It hurts to think that I'm no longer part of it, it's hard not being in the box anymore and being able to cheer Jannik on, but I'll have to get used to it quickly. Thanks to the team, but above all thank you Jannik and good luck for the future. You are a true champion!"