The best coaches of 2023, with ATP recognition, and a note of disappointment from Novak Djokovic. Naturally, they were in the stands at Melbourne Park, suffering (a little this time) and cheering (a lot) Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill, the coaching tandem that is taking Jannik Sinner to the highest levels. And in Australia, 2024 brought the first Slam final, to start the year at the top. Last year, the leader of Italian tennis ended with already super numbers: the position n.4 in the ranking, with Sinner the first Italian to finish a season in the Top 5 in the Open era, the first to reach the final of the Nitto ATP Finals, with victories also over the world number 1.
Teamwork
Behind these results is the greatness of the individual, but also the teamwork: Sinner himself, who in the ATP recognitions was the most loved by the fans, has always thanked his team led by Vagnozzi to which the racquet guru Cahill has been added: he was the key man for Sinner, the one who allowed him to improve in service, especially with the second. Against Djokovic he won 63% of the points from the second, a enormity.
The new era of the Italian began in February 2022 when he chose to leave Riccardo Piatti who had followed him from the beginning of his career and entrust himself to Vagnozzi. From Wimbledon 2022, the Australian Cahill joined the team. Sinner chose Vagnozzi for a technical evolution in the sign of variations in service and in the attack game. 'I have known Jannik since he was 14 years old, coaching him is easy, he has a good character and always wants to improve a lot,' says Vagnozzi of his best student.
The role of Cahill
From Wimbledon 2022, the number one of the coaches, Cahill, got on the Sinner train: he helped Lleyton Hewitt become the youngest ATP number 1 (record then beaten in 2022 by Carlos Alcaraz) and Andre Agassi the oldest. Then he worked with Simona Halep, who also became queen. Cahill immediately showed Sinner videos of Agassi, whom the Australian had brought back to the world number 1. 'Jannik is tall, thin, has a great arm span and can generate great power - says the coach about the Italian -. Andre revolutionized the game in his time for how he hit the ball, especially from the backhand side. There is a lot to learn from the great players of the past.' The physical trainer is Umberto Ferrara, who takes care of the gym work (which Sinner likes least, the Italian as his coaches say likes to always be on the court with the racket in hand). The team also includes physiotherapist Giacomo Naldi who left Virtus Bologna basketball to follow Jannik, and osteopath Andrea Cipolla. And then there's Sinner's father: Mr. Hans-Peter, a professional chef now cooks for his son and the team on tour.
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