WATCH: Jannik Sinner makes first public appearance with Novak Djokovic's ex-team members Marco Panichi, Ulesis Badio; lands in Beijing for China Open
Jannik Sinner has landed in Beijing ahead of the 2024 China Open. The Italian was recently spotted at the airport, accompanied for the first time by Novak Djokovic’s former team members—fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio.
Sinner, the recently crowned US Open champion, returned to Italy after winning glory in New York. Enjoying some down time, he attended his sponsor Gucci’s show at the Milan Fashion Week. During his stay in the Italian city, the World No. 1 also trained on the local courts with his coach Simone Vagnozzi.
Following the brief visit, Jannik Sinner has arrived in Beijing for the upcoming China Open (September 26-October 2). The ATP 500 tournament will mark Sinner’s first appearance since winning the US Open. He is the defending champion at the event.
Interestingly, it will also be the first time Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio cheer him on from the players’ box. The team was greeted by fans and organizers at the Beijing airport on Sunday, September 22.
Sinner confirmed the duo’s addition to the team last week, having announced his split from former fitness coach Umberto Ferrara and physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi before the US Open.
Ferrara and Naldi’s exit came as a result of Jannik Sinner’s doping controversy, where it was established that the duo’s errors led to the Italian’s two positive tests in March.
"I want to start with that they have been a huge part for my career. We worked together for two years. We made an incredible job, bringing a lot of success and then having a great team behind me," Sinner said about the separation during his US Open press conference.
"Now, because of these mistakes, I'm not feeling that confident to continue with them. The only thing I just need right now, just some clean air. I was struggling a lot in the last months."
The Italian would look to continue his on-tour dominance with his new team members as he chases his seventh title of the season and 17th overall at the ATP 500 in Beijing.
Jannik Sinner's new fitness coach Marco Panichi parted ways with Novak Djokovic earlier this year
Jannik Sinner’s new hires are no strangers to the tennis world, having won multiple titles, including Grand Slams, with Novak Djokovic.
Fitness coach Marco Panichi first collaborated with the Serb in 2017 and has also worked with the likes of Fabio Fognini and Daniela Hantuchova. After seven successful years together, the pair parted ways in April 2024, just weeks after Djokovic announced that he had also ended his partnership with coach Goran Ivanisevic.
Meanwhile, Ulises Badio, who also teamed up with Novak Djokovic in 2017, played an integral role in the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s revival after his unfortunate elbow injury. His collaboration ended in late 2022, when the Serb joined hands with Jannik Sinner’s former physiotherapist, Claudio Zimaglia.