Severin Lüthi, former coach of Federer, defends Sinner: "It is not by far a doping case"

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The tennis world continues to talk about the issue surrounding the circuit for several months: the doping case of Jannik Sinner. Since the positive test in August until the agreement of a three-month suspension with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), most players and tennis-related individuals have given their opinions.

The latest to speak out is an authoritative voice like Severin Luthi, coach of Roger Federer from 2007 until his retirement and also the captain of the Davis Cup team since 2005. Luthi from Bern is also helping guide the early career of Henry Bernet, the junior champion of the last Australian Open. The Swiss coach discussed various topics in an interview with the Corriere del Ticino.

Severin Lüthi has been Roger Federer's right-hand man for almost 20 years. Even after Federer's retirement in 2022, their relationship remains strong, albeit less frequent: "Work has certainly been a crucial aspect, but there has always been a great friendship between us. We have not seen each other often in the last two years, but we regularly speak. Our meetings mainly took place abroad, at international events like the Laver Cup. Both of us are, among other things, Uniqlo brand ambassadors in the sportswear sector."

- No joy since the Davis Cup success in 2014

Apart from his sporting connection with Federer, Lüthi has been the captain of the Swiss Davis Cup team for 20 years. Their greatest success came in 2014 when they lifted the cup, but the current situation is different: "The situation has changed drastically since then. For some time now, I have been dealing with young players trying to carve a path in the circuit. And let me state this loud and clear, it is not something that can be taken for granted. Being in the ATP top 100 is the goal for many young players. In reality, few manage to achieve their goals. Unfortunately, some of these players also struggle with injuries. This is one of the issues that concerns me the most these days," the Swiss lamented.

One of these young talents he is working with is Henry Bernet, who inevitably draws comparisons to Federer, a topic Lüthi prefers not to dwell on: "Henry certainly has great potential. I can say this because I closely monitor his progress. In fact, I work closely with his coach, Sven Swinnen. We will meet again in a few days in Bienne, at the Swiss National Tennis Center, to evaluate how he should approach the spring season and the tournaments leading up to Roland Garros. As for comparisons with Roger, I prefer to overlook them..."

However, Lüthi did offer praise for another compatriot, Stan Wawrinka: "He is admirable. His passion for tennis knows no bounds. I have known him since he was very young. He has always been a workaholic when it comes to training. His physical preparation has always been almost obsessive. Thanks to these traits, he managed to win three Grand Slam titles and reach the world number three ranking. Of course, Stan, too, inevitably feels his age now. I just hope he continues to view tennis as he always has."

- Praises for Sinner for handling the pressure

Apart from Swiss tennis, he was also asked about his opinion on Jannik Sinner's positive doping test. He didn't hesitate to support the world number one: "I admire Sinner for how he mentally managed himself in 2024 and in these early months of 2025. He handled it like a true number one. He is a player deserving of respect. His case is by no means a doping case. However, I prefer not to express an opinion on the decisions made by the authorities who discussed the matter."

He also supports the arguments of Novak Djokovic: "Perhaps Djokovic also has a point in expressing doubts and perplexities on how Sinner's case was handled. Clear regulations may be lacking. But, as I said, I prefer not to delve into this delicate and difficult matter. Especially in terms of ointments and painkillers. In this regard, I like to remind that Roger himself has always paid great attention to medication prescriptions throughout his career. Unfortunately, even minor distractions can be costly," noted Luthi, who maintains his undiminished passion for tennis despite no longer coaching one of the greatest players in history.
 

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Severin Lüthi, ex entrenador de Federer, defiende a Sinner: "No es ni de lejos un caso de dopaje"