Vagnozzi: "With Sinner, I'm the annoying one, the one who says the things he doesn't want to hear"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 22 Apr 2026 | 10.28

Simone Vagnozzi and his relationship with Sinner. Photo: gettyimages

Streaming ATP Madrid live tennis

🎾 Tomas Machac vs Francisco Comesana

Sign up with Bet365 here
Make your first deposit of at least €5
Go to the “Live” section and watch every match

Watch the match on Bet365

Simone Vagnozzi maintains a low profile in the media, but no one doubts his importance in explaining the excellence of Jannik Sinner. The Italian coach exerts tremendous influence over his player and discussed it in a talk where he addressed other matters, such as the rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz or the decision to compete in the Mutua Madrid Open 2026.

They say geniuses have some common traits, regardless of their field of action, and one of them is knowing how to stay discreetly in the background, not making much noise in the media, and carrying out their work flawlessly behind closed doors. That is the maxim of Simone Vagnozzi, a man who turned around the career of Jannik Sinner and leads a team where Darren Cahill also provides that necessary secondary voice to complement messages and avoid strain in the relationship. In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian coach left his mark with his personality and relationship with the current world number 1.

This is what Simone Vagnozzi said before Sinner started the Mutua Madrid Open 2026

Why have they decided to play the Mutua Madrid Open 2026

"We had a lot of time to train before competing in Indian Wells, and we thought there would be too many free weeks between Monte Carlo and Rome, at a time when Jannik is feeling good and confident. There is no better training than competing, and when you play well and win, the energy expenditure is lower. We don't want him to lose the rhythm of play he has," he commented.

Rivalry with Alcaraz and the importance of being number 1

"It was exciting to win in Monte Carlo for many reasons, and one of them was to regain the number 1 spot. It is clear that, regarding that, the most important thing is to finish the season in that position, but having returned to the top of the ranking after three months without playing last year is a great success. Also, beating Carlos is always special because it drives us to improve. Great champions always demand that you constantly find new solutions. It's a pity if he can't play in Rome or Paris because Jannik likes to compete against him; it's a different feeling," he warned.

Sinner's lack of significant injuries

"Well, I think the magic recipe is having a top-notch team, building a good foundation, and having a bit of luck. These guys train between 300 and 320 days a year, the intensity of the game is increasing, and you can never be sure that problems won't arise. In any case, I think the addition of Cahill to the team has also been key," he explained.

Will Darren Cahill remain on the team at the end of the year?

"We have always shared the same vision regarding Jannik's career, and it has been vital that neither of us has taken on more responsibility than the other. Each of us understands where we need to focus more, sometimes you have to step back for the common good, but we work great together. I would say I'm the tough one, the one who says things that Jannik doesn't want to hear, the bad cop. While Darren is more laid back and cheerful, knows how to calm things down in tense moments," he assured.

What makes Sinner special and how have they built this player

"There is no magic wand to explain what we have achieved together since 2022. The key has been to think long-term. I believe we have taken many risks, changing numerous technical and tactical aspects of his tennis. It could have gone wrong, but we have found a guy who is patient and works very hard. In any case, I would say that Sinner is a developing player, he has not reached his full potential. He is very serious and responsible on the court, but off the court, he is a very cheerful guy who jokes around and enjoys life," said Simone Vagnozzi, a key figure in Jannik Sinner's success.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Vagnozzi: "Con Sinner soy el pesado, el que dice las cosas que no quiere oír"