Cahill's shocking confession about how Djokovic helped Sinner improve his tennis

Carlos Navarro | 18 Jun 2025 | 10.38

Djokovic and Sinner, after the Roland Garros match.

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Darren Cahill arrived at the Jannik Sinner team a little over three years ago with a very clear idea of what needed to be done to raise the Italian's ceiling: more variety in the game, different ball trajectories, attacking the mid-court better... in short, a plan to turn the Italian into a better player. What we didn't know, of course, is that other direct competitors also rowed in that direction: in a conversation with Andy Roddick, Cahill himself acknowledges that the figure of Novak Djokovic was crucial for Sinner's growth.

"We knew how good Jannik was, but against the best, he was exposed, as he always played the same type of ball. Opponents ended up getting used to his ball, there was no variety. He lost to Novak at Wimbledon after winning the first two sets, somewhat as I said: Novak got used to his type of ball, its weight and trajectory, and ended up comfortably taking the last three sets. Shortly after, I saw Novak and told him that I had started working with Jannik, not to tell me anything he didn't want to, but what were his feelings about him.

It was incredible. Incredible. He wished me good luck with him and commented that yes, he hit the ball incredibly well, but there was no variety. That Jannik wasn't trying to come to the net or bring him closer to the net, that he knew how to return well, but he didn't quite attack his serve aggressively... he went over how Jannik played, analyzed him thoroughly. They weren't revelations that we didn't know, but when you sit with someone as young as Jannik Sinner and put that conversation with Nole on the table... that makes a great impression and has a big effect on such a young player." Did Nole end up helping create the monster that has now beaten him in their recent matches?