Darren Cahill, the coach who helped guide Jannik Sinner to five Grand Slam titles and the world number one spot, is to leave the Italian’s team at the end of the year.
Cahill, an Australian aged 61, joined Sinner’s team in June 2022. At that time, Sinner was just outside the world’s top 10 and had never progressed beyond the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament.
Together with Italian coach Simone Vagnozzi, Cahill has helped Sinner go on to win five Slams and occupy the world number one spot for 95 weeks.
Injury and rankings
Injury has kept the 25-year-old out of action since he won Wimbledon for the second year in a row in July. That absence led to Alexander Zverev recently overtaking him at the top of the rankings.
Sinner is set to return to competition at the Six Kings Slam tournament in Saudi Arabia next month.
Successor named
Swede Magnus Norman, the long-time coach of recently retired Stan Wawrinka, will join Sinner’s team for next season.
Reaction
Sinner paid tribute to his outgoing coach. “Darren has been an incredibly important part of my journey,” he said.
“Together with Simone and the whole team, we have achieved things I dreamed of growing up. He has helped me grow both as a player and as a person, and his guidance will stay with me throughout my career.”
Cahill had originally planned to leave at the end of 2025. However, he told Sinner at Wimbledon that the Italian could decide whether he stayed on, as long as he won the title.
“Working with Jannik has been a special honour and privilege,” Cahill said.