Jannik Sinner's Wimbledon triumph could force Aussie coach Darren Cahill to backflip and stay

Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner admitted he is hoping Darren Cahill changes his mind about retiring at the end of the season after winning a bet against his Aussie coach. Sinner produced one of his best-ever matches to defeat Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final to become the first Italian male to ever lift the trophy.

Having avenged his devastating loss at Roland Garros only a month ago, Sinner defeated the Spaniard in four sets to claim his second grand slam title of the year. Sinner now holds three of the four grand slams with rival Alcaraz holding the French Open trophy after the duo were involved in another five-set epic.

Next to Sinner has been Aussie coach Cahill who has helped the Italian rise up the rankings across the last two years. Cahill took Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Simona Halep to World No.1 during their illustrious careers and he has also achieved this feat alongside Sinner.

Jannik Sinner (pictured left) has admitted he is hoping to change Darren Cahill's mind about retiring at the end of the season after revealing the two made a bet ahead of the Wimbledon final. (Images: Getty Images)

And in the process he has become very close to the player and his coaching staff. At the Australian Open earlier this year, Sinner admitted he was honoured Cahill had chosen him to be the last player he would coach on the tour.

Although it appears Sinner hasn't given up hope Cahill will change his mind. Speaking after winning at SW19, Sinner said on the eve of the Wimbledon final Cahill and him made a bet. The Australian said if Sinner won against Alcaraz the Italian would have the final say on whether he remains part of his team. And Sinner won the bet.

"Darren told me, 'if you win tomorrow, you can decide whether or not I stay on as coach'. So now the choice is mine!," Sinner revealed after the final. "Let's just say I won the bet, and so we'll see what happens."

The reason for the 58-year-old to call time on his coaching career was to spend more time with his family. Coaches undertake just as much travel as the players and it appears Cahill is ready to settle down after so much success as one of the game's best managers.

While Sinner knows Cahill's thoughts on retirement, the Italian admitted there was plenty of time left in the season. "The season is long. There are a lot of tournaments. You never know…" he added.

While Sinner remained coy on trying to keep Cahill on, head coach Simone Vagnozzi was more straight-forward when asked a couple of months ago. "If you ask me, I hope Darren stays next year and that we can still have continuity. I'm trying to convince him, let's see," Vagnozzi said in May.

"He and I have found a balance, and we have integrated well. There are departments where maybe I do more, and departments where he does more. But we have integrated well, we hope to convince him."

Darren Cahill (pictured left) and Simone Vagnozzi (pictured right) coached Jannik Sinner to the Wimbledon title.

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Sinner and Cahill have enjoyed a great relationship since working together. During the Australian Open, Sinner was seen celebrating with Cahill's family at Rod Laver Arena following a victory. Speaking during the tournament, Sinner respected Cahill's decision to step away from tennis and felt honoured he was the last player he would work with during his successful career. 

“I feel very, very lucky and happy to be his last player on tour," Sinner said at the time. "He has been an amazing, amazing coach and person, not only for me but for all the other players he has worked with. He has a beautiful family, so many great things to come for him also after his tennis job. Let’s see. But the year is still long.”

It came as a big surprise when Sinner split with former coach Riccardo Piatti two years ago, after Piatti guided him through the junior ranks and into senior tennis. But the coaching switch has worked wonders, with Cahill helping Sinner win the Australian and US Open crowns in 2024. He has now added the 2025 Australian Open and Wimbledon titles to take his tally to four grand slams.

Jannik Sinner (pictured left) is hoping coach Darren Cahill (pictued right) stays on after the 2025 season.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo Sport Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/jannik-sinners-wimbledon-triumph-could-force-aussie-coach-darren-cahill-to-backflip-and-stay-053116869.html

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