Archive of posts tagged Darren Cahill

Sinner and Cahill a Go for 2026?

Posted by on

The Italian won a bet, and he wants to make his Aussie coach pay up. analyst

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday July 15, 2025

In January of this year, we reported that Jannik Sinner and Darren Cahill would not be working together after the 2025 season. On Sunday we learned that the split might be as clean as anticipated.

Tennis Express

Asked about the future of the duo after Sinner won his maiden Wimbledon final on Sunday, Cahill seemed to hint that the partnership might not be ending. "I don't want to answer this," Cahill responded. "You know what? You just need to ask Jannik that."

Sinner wasn’t asked in English, but in the Italian section of his press conference the question was put to him.

"We made a bet before the final: I told him that if I won, I could choose whether he could stay or not at the end of the year. Now the choice is mine!” the 23-year-old Italian said.


Hard to tell if he was serious or not, but he has laid out a potential plan which would allow Cahill to continue coaching and advising from a distance.

“If I choose to stay with him, he probably won't travel so much anymore, that's normal,” Sinner said. “I've always told him I'd like to have him in Australia, because things are going well. Plus, the season is still long, there are still so many tournaments to go, and I'll see him a lot more… But I won the bet, now we'll see!”

It makes sense in a lot of ways, and not only in Australia. Cahill is contracted to work at the Grand Slams as an analyst, so he’s already there at the four biggest tournaments. Why not continue to tap one of the greatest coaching minds that the sport has ever seen?

“I've always looked for an honest person, who gives me so much not only on the tennis court, but also in life outside, both in success and disappointment,” Sinner added.

How Sinner Became Unstoppable on Grass

Posted by on

The unflappable Italian went from unsure to commanding on the sports slickest surface. By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday July 13, 2025

What made the difference for Jannik Sinner on Sunday at Wimbledon? How was he able to overcome his devastating loss to Carlos Alcaraz at Roland-Garros last month and snap a personal five-match losing streak to the Spaniard?

Tennis Express

So many reasons. But anybody who watched Sinner control the run of play against the two-time champion knows that his movement had a lot to do with it. Now comfortable with sliding on both sides, and able to use his speed to complement his breathtaking power game, Sinner has gone from a player who may never win Wimbledon, because Alcaraz is in his way, to a player that has what it takes to win multiple titles at the All England Club.

“I think that once he learned to feel more comfortable moving on grass, we believed that he had a game that was really good for grass,” his coach Darren Cahill said in a press conference after Sunday’s 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 takedown of Alcaraz on Centre Court. “His game has been improving all the time, and his results have shown that.”

Sinner agrees. And he adds that his naturally flat groundstrokes make him particularly difficult to contend with on grass.

“This year for sure I felt great on court,” he said. “I think we saw this also today how I started to move better every match I played,” he said. The beginning of my career I knew that I could potentially play well here because of my groundstrokes. They're quite flat, and the ball goes through.”

Another reason for Sinner’s rapid rise as a grass-court guru? His ability to watch and learn.

Cahill says that Sinner has been watching and learning from his rival as their rivalry has evolved. He may not surpass him in some areas, but he’s wise enough to recognize that he could implement some of the things that Alcaraz does well in his own game.

“I would say that Jannik watches more Carlos matches than he does anybody else because he's fascinated with the improvements that are coming in his game, and he's pushing us as coaches to make sure that he's improving also as a tennis player as well,” Cahill said. “So the rivalry is real. It's there. And hopefully it's going to be there and real for the next 10 or 12 years.”

Finally, we must factor in Sinner’s unflappability. How was he able to stay so on-mission after losing in the most heartbreaking fashion to Alcaraz in Paris. Triple match point in the fourth set? It would be understandable if he lost belief in himself temporarily after that harrowing experience.

“This I think is the part where I'm the proudest of because it really has not been easy,” Sinner admitted. “I always tried to be honest with myself, and I had the self-talk too – you know, what if, what if? I always tried to accept it, in a way.”

Sinner did more than accept it. He embraced it, and realized that he was so close rather than so far, from where he wanted to be. Then he did the work and pulled off a magical run on the grass.

Rivalry on…