Darren Cahill, the Australian coach who has been a key figure in Jannik Sinner’s rise to the top of men’s tennis, will step away from the Italian’s team at the end of the year. The announcement confirms that Darren Cahill to leave Sinner’s team marks the close of a partnership that began in June 2022, when Sinner was ranked just outside the world’s top 10 and had not yet gone beyond the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam.
Working alongside Italian coach Simone Vagnozzi, Cahill has helped Sinner collect five major singles titles and hold the world number one ranking for 95 weeks. The 25-year-old Italian has not competed since winning Wimbledon for the second consecutive year in July, and Alexander Zverev has since moved ahead of him in the rankings. Sinner is scheduled to return at the Six Kings Slam tournament in Saudi Arabia next month.
A Partnership That Delivered Major Success
Cahill, 61, joined Sinner’s camp at a time when the player was still seeking a breakthrough at the sport’s biggest events. Together with Vagnozzi, he oversaw a period in which Sinner became a fixture in the latter stages of Grand Slams and eventually ascended to the top of the rankings. The five major titles and the extended stay at number one stand as the defining results of their collaboration.
Sinner paid tribute to Cahill’s influence, saying the Australian had been an incredibly important part of his journey. He noted that the team had achieved things he dreamed of growing up, and that Cahill had helped him develop both as a player and as a person. Sinner added that the guidance he received would remain with him throughout his career.
Cahill's Original Plan and the Wimbledon Conversation
Cahill had initially intended to leave at the end of 2025, but he told Sinner at Wimbledon that the Italian could decide whether he stayed on, provided he won the title. Sinner went on to claim the championship, but Cahill’s departure has now been confirmed for the end of the year.
Reflecting on his time with Sinner, Cahill described working with the Italian as a special honour and privilege. The Australian’s exit marks the end of a coaching arrangement that coincided with the most successful phase of Sinner’s career to date.
Magnus Norman Set to Join for Next Season
Swede Magnus Norman, who served as long-time coach to recently retired Stan Wawrinka, will join Sinner’s team for next season. Norman’s arrival is intended to fill the void left by Cahill as Sinner prepares for a return to competition and the defence of his standing at the top of the game.
Sinner’s immediate focus will be on the Six Kings Slam in Saudi Arabia next month, his first event since his Wimbledon triumph in July. The Italian will then look to build on a period in which Cahill played a central role, with Vagnozzi remaining in place and Norman set to add his experience to the setup.
