Giacomo Naldi was dismissed from Jannik Sinner’s team in 2024 following the controversial Clostebol saga.
When Sinner tested positive for Clostebol last year, Naldi and Umberto Ferrara were fired.
Earlier this year, Sinner re-hired Ferrara but decided against bringing Naldi back into the fold.
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Instead, Naldi now works with another Italian, Francesco Passaro, the world number 139.
Having previously declined to comment about his departure from Sinner’s team, Naldi has now shared how he really feels about the Italian star.
Giacomo Naldi says he has ‘no hard feelings’ towards Jannik Sinner
In an interview with La Gazetta dello Sport, Naldi revealed what his relationship with Sinner is like now.
“Even during the proceedings, we always had a good relationship,” he said.
“Even though the collaboration has ended, there’s no hard feelings. What happened can’t be changed, but we have to move on. Life goes on.
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“We talked, it was cordial, we shared private things. Beyond everything, the human relationship remains after a case that involved us, and it was just an unfortunate series of coincidences, and we are aware of that.”
Naldi is proud of the way he handled a difficult situation that had many criticising him.
“I’ve always behaved correctly; I’ve never sought publicity,” he said.
“These are the first official statements I’ve made since everything happened. At times, words have been put in my mouth from other contexts that have sparked social media hate and controversy.
“Unlike others, I never said anything about what happened, and I think my honesty was evident and appreciated.”
The Italian proceeded to comment on his recent interactions with Darren Cahill and Ferrara.
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“I saw [Darren] Cahill, who has always been very kind,” said Naldi.
“And I ran into [Umberto] Ferrara.
“I come from a basketball background, I’ve always tried to bring team spirit to the Sinner team, too, and that’s one of the things that was most appreciated.”
Looking to move on from the incident, Naldi enjoyed his return to the ATP Tour, as he recalls an interaction he had with the new world number one…
Carlos Alcaraz made Giacomo Naldi ‘immensely happy’ when they met
Travelling with Passaro, Naldi met world number one Carlos Alcaraz recently.
“I was very pleased to return to the tour, experiencing the atmosphere of a Grand Slam. And the welcome was excellent from everyone: players, coaches, trainers,” said Naldi.
“He [Carlos Alcaraz] came up to me, was very kind as always, we had a chat, and it was something that made me immensely happy.
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“No awkwardness, therefore, no sidelong glances or small talk: Everything was absolutely calm. In the end, time passes, people move forward, each according to their own path.
“Everyone knows how things went by now, and those who don’t know can go and read the verdict. I didn’t feel like I was being watched; it was like picking up the thread of the conversation where I left off.”
After a stint with Grand Slam champion Sinner, Naldi is now spending the majority of his time on the Challenger Tour with Passaro.
The 24-year-old lost in the quarterfinals of the Bad Woltersdorf Challenger Tour event recently and is scheduled to return in Mouilleron-le-Captif, France, next week.