Jannik Sinner breaks silence and explains shock coach split days before Wimbledon

Jannik Sinner has claimed there was "nothing major" behind his decision to axe two key team members ahead of Wimbledon. Physiotherapist Ulises Badio and fitness coach Marco Panichi, who both previously worked with Novak Djokovic, departed the world No.1's camp days before he headed to SW19.

Ahead of Tuesday's meeting with fellow Italian Luca Nardi, Sinner confirmed that the decision to part ways came after his shock second-round exit in Halle.

He said: "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 made some 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."

Sinner said there was no particular reason for their split, adding: "There's not one specific thing. Nothing crazy happened. That's for sure not.

"We made some great work. For me the final in Roland Garros was an amazing achievement. That's it.

"Look, in this sport things can happen. There is nothing incredible because sometimes a player feels something different, and that's my case. But again, I'm here to play tennis. I'm here to show that I can play some good tennis also on grass."

The world No.1 is still working with coaches Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill. But Sinner, who was the defending champion in Halle earlier this month, has not played since he was dumped out by Alexander Bublik in the round of 16.

Ahead of his campaign for a maiden Wimbledon crown, he said: "It feels good again after one year coming back here. I'm very happy. I have some good feelings coming here, even though it's a bit different than last year, coming with the win in Halle.

"But it's good. I had some time off before coming here. We are practising very well. The days are long. So I feel ready to compete again.

"Honestly, I feel ready to play. I feel ready. We are practising very well. What happened in the past is in the past already.

"I feel good. I feel especially mentally I feel in a very good spot. Halle was a little bit different, because before I haven't had so much time to cut that off. Now it's gone, and I see also the reactions of other players and people, they talked the level is very, very high. Just privileged to be in this position.

"Yeah, as I said, we are working very hard. I feel like that I'm playing great, great tennis on grass. Hopefully I can show this also in the match court. Yeah, I'm just looking forward to go on court and to compete and enjoy the time on the courts."

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