Coming back stronger after Roland Garros final defeat
Many people have claimed and joked that Sinner is a robot on court. However, the Aussie dismissed these claims linking him to that. “Not at all. There’s a part of him that loves danger and that’s not seen much on the court, because when he’s in a match he has this internal computer that’s constantly working, and there’s a certain confidence in the way he plays.
“He calculates the probability of winning the point by choosing a certain shot with the least risk, and that’s the hallmark of a winning player. In life, however, it’s not quite like that. He loves car racing, speed. He loves adrenaline. But these two souls come together in a single, incredibly professional player: training, nutrition, rest, he tries to step onto the court every time with the goal of growing and improving. That’s why he’s a champion.”
This drive and motivation would be needed after last year’s Roland Garros disappointment. Sinner took a two-set lead against Carlos Alcaraz before missing three championship points. Alcaraz would complete an outstanding comeback and win a second title at Roland Garros to the dismay of his arch rival.
Whilst the defeat was excruciating, Sinner managed to bounce back and win Wimbledon. This stems down from his overall nature. “He has a special talent that we coaches can’t teach,” Cahill explained. “It’s an inner drive that makes him want to learn from every situation. Jannik doesn’t just learn from defeats, but also a lot from victories, because it’s essential to ‘go to school’ in every tennis match. Win or lose, he looks at everything through the same lens: ‘How can I improve today?’. That’s his strength.”
Working together with Vagnozzi
Cahill works closely with a whole team supporting Sinner. One of them is Simone Vagzozzi, who he described as the main coach. “Simone is the main coach,” he confirmed. “I think the reason our relationship works so well is that our roles are fairly well-defined, yet intertwined in many ways. Simone and I discuss everything about Jannik, both technically and emotionally.
“He tries to learn from me in some areas, and I’m learning from him in many others, because he has an incredible technical eye, better than mine. He can see technical aspects of the game that very few coaches can. And he sees them very early, very clearly. But above all, he manages to convey them to the player so he can understand them and put them into practice.”
Over time the pair of them have overseen and guided Sinner to new levels adapting and changing his game to make him almost unstoppable. “Simone has been extraordinary in the small changes he’s made to Jannik’s game. The serve is the most obvious example, and the data confirms the work they’ve done on this shot, now one of the best on tour. Simone is a special coach. He knows how to choose the right moment to convey a message to Jannik: he knows when he wants to hear something and when he should let him solve his problems on his own. Simone is the voice.”
Vagnozzi had previously said that he was the bad cop and Cahill was the good cop. “No, no,” he laughed. “He’s the one who has to deliver messages in times of pressure, so yes, that can be more difficult than my role. I have to take care of the team culture and make sure everyone communicates well. Each of us knows our role and the goal we’re working towards. I think that’s our strength, and what gives Sinner great peace of mind.”
What comes next
Cahill was uncertain when talking about how long left he will spend with Sinner. He agreed to continue alongside him for another year if he won the Wimbledon title, which he did. “Let’s see… I didn’t think I’d be coaching Jannik in 2026, and yet here I am,” he stated. “For now, there’s no bet; my goal is to do the best job possible for Sinner and the team this year. Then we’ll talk at the end of the season, like we did last year, and we’ll decide, with complete peace of mind.”
The 60-year-old did confirm that Sinner will be his last ever player he coaches. “Absolutely yes. One hundred percent.”
Once he has moved on from coaching Sinner in the future, Cahill wants to sit down and reminisce on the good times they had, seeking one key note from their time together. “Not just trophies, for sure. My idea of coaching is that, at the end of the journey, the person you coach is a better person,” he commented. “It’s a question of culture, of respect for colleagues, restaurant staff, drivers, ball boys, referees. So, if in five or ten years, when I’m no longer with him, I see him still playing, giving his all and showing respect for everyone around him, that will make me happy. Because if everything becomes just about titles, you lose the meaning of what you do. And Jannik, the tennis player, does it for love.”