Vagnozzi recalls Sinner's collapse at Roland Garros and explains the cause

Pedro de Pablos | 27 Jul 2026 | 15.27

Vagnozzi recalls Sinner's collapse at Roland Garros and explains the cause. Source: Getty Images.

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To understand the success of Jannik Sinner, it is very important to know the team behind him. Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill are the main architects of the perfect machinery that the world number 1 has become, and the Italian coach has explained how he joined the team and the evolution of the player from San Candido until now, as well as the controversies surrounding his figure.

In an interview with Corriere, Vagnozzi revealed that as he progressed in his tennis career, he realized he did not have enough to break into the top 100, so he chose to start his coaching career after suffering two consecutive injuries. After leading Marco Cecchinato to the semifinals of Roland Garros and to the 16th position in the ATP rankings, the opportunity to train Sinner arose, and that's where he found the player with whom he would make history.

"His agent, Alex Vittur, is my godfather; I have known him all my life. Jannik came to Cecchinato's box in Monte Carlo and then came the final, where he played against Travaglia, whom I was following at that time, in Melbourne. When Sinner decided to part ways with Piatti in 2022, Vittur called me to coach him. I was put to the test, but obviously, it worked. You could tell right away that he had exceptional talent; he was the number ten in the world at twenty years old," he said.

Vagnozzi praises Sinner's mentality

Vagnozzi has highlighted Sinner's mentality and how humble he is in accepting his coaches' advice, a key factor in understanding his success. "Perhaps in five years, I have only had to motivate him two or three times. He is always the first to sacrifice himself to improve and knows how to listen. He does not see himself as superior to others. Even if you give him a good hit after a match, the next day he reflects, reacts, and accepts what you told him. His greatest quality is that he likes to have people around him who tell him what he doesn't want to hear."

Although this has improved over the years, from the beginning Simone already realized he was dealing with a special player, revealing that "during our first conversation, I hoped he wouldn't tell me he was happy being number 10. And he didn't: he wanted to be number one. He was incredibly strong already, but we needed to develop his physicality and muscle, and work on the mental aspect. When I think of the Jannik from five years ago, I see him completely differently today."

Vagnozzi talks about Sinner's suspension and physical problems

Another notable incident in Sinner's team was the 3-month suspension after testing positive for doping due to the infamous ointment case, which Vagnozzi described as "a tough time. You don't understand what's happening, as you are not at fault. But in tennis, we're used to always seeing the glass half full and turning things around. Were you eliminated early in Roland Garros? You'll have more time to prepare for Wimbledon. Were you disqualified? You have time to recharge, recover, and correct that technical aspect. Jannik is a phenomenon in this regard; when he steps on the court, he erases everything outside it, he eliminates it."

Furthermore, there are also many criticisms of the world number 1 for his physical downturns during some important moments, resulting in tough losses like the one in the last Roland Garros against Juan Manuel Cerúndolo. "I don't believe there is a single cause; there are many small things that, when combined, can lead to these small collapses, but let's remember there have been four in the last five years. These men are not robots. Heat, fatigue, and tension can play a role. The temperature in Paris was unbearable, and he arrived there with considerable physical and mental stress. We have to live with these episodes and work to prevent them," he concluded.

What did Cahill bring to Sinner's team?

As Vagnozzi took over as Sinner's coach, they decided to add another big name like Darren Cahill, and it was through the union of both with the Italian player that the team's greatest successes came. "With Cahill, we knew we could add flexibility. He was a rather rigid individual: on the court, he played excellent points, but he lacked the tactical dimension, the understanding of his opponents' characteristics, and therefore the flexibility to face them. Jannik has improved significantly, with the intelligence to be open to refining a natural and dominant talent"

However, these successes did not come by magic, but with an evolution both physically and mentally. "The serve is different, the way he handles the point, his confidence at the net, his ease in choosing drop shots: everything has improved and changed. You learn through experience, but it requires a lot of hard work, a lot of study, a lot of dedication on his part. Jannik has a great desire to learn. To always improve."

At the end of the season, Cahill will step aside, and Vagnozzi will remain as the sole coach for the Italian player, as Darren wants to slow down the demanding pace of the schedule to spend more time with his family. Still, the impact of the Australian coach has already been made, leaving a mark on the player from San Candido that will accompany him for the rest of his career, including a mentality that has allowed him to reach where he is today.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Vagnozzi recuerda el colapso de Sinner en Roland Garros y explica la causa

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