Darren Cahill on Jannik Sinner: ‘He’s got a champion mindset’

Jannik Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill reckons his ward has got a champion mindset. Sinner won the second Major of his young career after beating Taylor Fritz in the US Open final at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York on Sunday in straight sets.

The renowned Australian coach added that the Italian was ready for the summit clash against the American and he was in good mental space. 

It has been a fantastic season so far for Sinner as he is 55-5 on the tour and has won two Slams. Sinner had earlier won the Australian Open after beating Daniil Medvedev in the final.

“He was ready for the final,” Cahill told ESPN. “There was a difference between Australia and here. I think in Australia when you’re going for your first, those nerves, it was the first major final that he’d ever been in. There were more nerves. And maybe even some more expectations as well because he had beaten Medvedev a few times. And to get over that hump and that hurdle. I think it gives you incredible confidence that no matter what, you are going to be able to handle situations.

“This morning he practised well. This morning we were talking to Andre Agassi in the locker room. He was talking about his game, and his mentality, and his composure also in the big moments. Even when he was tested in that third set, I still felt like he felt like he could get back into it and turn it around which he was able to do. So, he’s got this champion mindset that I think a lot of players don’t have. Certain players do have it for sure. But I believe he was born with it and he loves those situations and those moments.”

Meanwhile, Sinner has worked with countryman Simone Vagnozzi since the start of 2022 and Cahill showered praise on the latter for his key inputs.

“I think that Simone Vagnozzi has done an amazing job over the past couple of years, working on errors of his game, both transition from defence… and to get some power on those in the corners,” Cahill told ESPN. “But also getting back and taking the point over and transitioning into offence as well. Simone has been an amazing coach. He’s done a great job the past two and a half, three years. And it’s been an absolute honour to work with him and see how he’s been able to evolve Jannik’s game.”

Sinner will look to keep up the good show in the rest of the season.