Pepe Imaz, the former Spanish professional footballer who served as Novak Djokovic’s mental coach starting in 2016, has spoken openly about his close relationship with the tennis star and sought to clarify misconceptions surrounding Djokovic’s persona.

In an interview with Europa Sur, Imaz emphasized that “From my experience, Djokovic is a wonderful human being, and everyone would discover this if they could get to know him beyond the player, beyond what is portrayed in the media, beyond what is portrayed in competitions.” He added that Djokovic “has a big heart,” describing him as sensitive, empathetic, generous, open, and eager to learn.

Despite these positive words, Imaz’s tenure with Djokovic’s team was not without controversy. In 2018, Marian Vajda, a former coach of Djokovic, insisted that Djokovic remove Imaz from his staff before he would return to coaching. During Imaz’s early involvement, Djokovic did not win a Grand Slam in 2017, marking his first such season since 2010, and also fell outside the world’s top 10 rankings. Furthermore, reports noted that Imaz’s presence contributed to Boris Becker’s exit from the team in December 2017. Vajda admitted in 2018: “Yes, I was pushing his end, though it was not my No. 1 condition. It was that I have to see Novak personally. The second was to set specific rules and plans in the coming months.”

Despite these challenges, Imaz remains grateful for his time with Djokovic, describing their relationship as “very close, much more personal and human than a simple professional relationship.” He highlighted Djokovic’s thirst for knowledge, his love of reading, and his openness to learning from others without prejudice. “Novak is a wonderful human being. He has shortcomings, like you and me; but he strives to grow as a person and does what he can in that regard,” said Imaz, acknowledging the difficult periods Djokovic has endured that the public may not fully appreciate.

Though the current status of their partnership is unclear, Imaz has been seen with Djokovic during training sessions in Spain and has contributed commentary during Grand Slam events.

Carlos Alcaraz spoke candidly about his emotions following the Wimbledon final defeat to Jannik Sinner during his pre-tournament press conference at the Cincinnati Open. Despite losing his first Grand Slam final in a four-set match (4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4), Alcaraz expressed that he “left the court happy” and proud of his performance. The world No. 2 acknowledged that losing a Grand Slam final was inevitable, saying, “Everyone does.” He emphasized gratitude for his achievements and the experience of reaching the Wimbledon final.

Following the loss, Alcaraz chose to skip the Canadian Masters to prioritize rest ahead of the season’s final Grand Slam. His demanding schedule this year includes titles at Monte Carlo, Rome, the French Open, and Queen’s Club, along with finals appearances in Barcelona and Wimbledon. He humorously noted, “For myself, when I’m off, I’m off… I’m just waiting for them with breakfast. I’m already eating!”

With a substantial lead of 1,540 points over Sinner in the ATP Race to Turin, Alcaraz looks to reclaim the world No. 1 ranking he last held in August 2023. He commented, “My goal from now until the end of the season is to reclaim the world number 1 spot.”

Alcaraz also reflected on his budding rivalry with Sinner that has already shaped tennis history over the last 18 months. Having contested the longest-ever French Open final and now the Wimbledon final, he stated, “I’m really happy to be building such a great rivalry against Jannik… I think we have such long careers ahead, just to see how far we can go.”

At the Cincinnati Open, Alcaraz is set to face either Mattia Bellucci or Damir Dzhumhur in the opening round.

Jannik Sinner has publicly addressed the return of Umberto Ferrara to his team, a decision made more than a year after the fitness trainer was dismissed following positive doping tests in 2024. Just over a week after securing his Wimbledon title in July 2025, Sinner’s camp confirmed Ferrara’s reinstatement as part of preparations for the Cincinnati Open and US Open.

“The decision has been made in alignment with Jannik’s management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and US Open,” said a statement from Sinner’s team. The return underscores a focus on continuity and sustaining performance at the highest level, acknowledging Ferrara’s previous important contributions to Sinner’s development.

Ferrara was initially dismissed along with physiotherapist Ulises Badio shortly before the 2024 US Open after Sinner tested positive twice for the banned substance clostebol in March 2024 at the Indian Wells Masters. Although an independent tribunal under The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) ruled Sinner bore “no fault or negligence,” he later served a ban from February to May 2024 following a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency.

In his press conference at the 2025 Cincinnati Open, Sinner refrained from detailed comments on rehiring Ferrara, saying, “Yeah, I think we said it all, everything in the statement. I’m very happy to be here and play again this tournament.”

Reflecting on his 2024 personnel changes, Sinner said, “I want to start with [saying] that they have been a huge part of my career. We made an incredible job, bringing a lot of success and then having a great team behind me. Now, because of these mistakes, I’m not feeling that confident to continue with them.”

The doping violation report attributed responsibility to Ferrara and Naldi, noting Ferrara had provided Naldi with trofodermin, a spray containing clostebol used to treat a cut on Naldi’s hand. It was alleged that Naldi subsequently contaminated Sinner during treatment, as he had massaged Sinner without gloves after applying the spray. Ferrara warned Naldi about the substance’s prohibited status but was reportedly aware that gloves were not typically used in Sinner’s treatments.

Ferrara originally joined Sinner’s team in 2022 and played a key role in his early career achievements. The decision to reintegrate him appears aimed at restoring team stability amid ongoing competitive challenges.