Sinner part ways with Darren Cahill, ropes in Stan Wawrinka’s coach Magnus Norman

Jannik Sinner will begin a new chapter in his coaching career after confirming that Darren Cahill will leave his team at the end of the 2026 season, ending a highly successful partnership that has helped the Italian establish himself among the top players in men’s tennis.

Sinner has appointed former world number two Magnus Norman to his coaching team since December. The Swede will work alongside Simone Vagnozzi, who has been part of the Italian team since 2022.

Cahill joined Sinner’s team in June 2022 and originally planned to step down at the end of the 2025 season. However, he agreed to stay on for another year, extending a partnership that produced five Grand Slam titles and helped Sinner reach the world No. 1 ranking.

In a message shared on social media on Friday, Sinner paid tribute to the Australian, describing him as an important influence on and off the court.

“Darren has been an incredibly important part of my journey. I want to thank Darren for his trust in me, his honesty and his dedication. He has helped me grow as a player and as a person and his guidance will stay with me throughout my career,” said Sinner.

The Italian added that while their coaching partnership is coming to an end, their friendship will continue. He also thanked Cahill for the five seasons they spent together and said he won’t forget a single day of their time together.

The relationship was also acknowledged by Cahill, who during his career coached four players to the top of the world rankings. He called working with Sinner a special honor and praised the Italian’s humility, dedication and trust in his team.

The coaching change comes at the end of a season in which Sinner was forced to battle a knee injury. He has not played since defeating Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon final in July and has already announced that he will not participate in the remaining ATP tournaments this year. Alexander Zverev is set to end 2026 as world number one at the end of the year.

WHO IS MAGNUS NORMAN

Norman brings considerable experience as a former player and coach. The 50-year-old Swede reached a career-high world ranking in 2000 and was a French Open finalist that year, losing to Gustav Kuerten.

However, his greatest achievements have come from the coaching field, especially during his collaboration with Stan Wawrinka. Norman began working with the Swiss in 2013 and helped him win three Grand Slam titles in as many consecutive years.

Wawrinka won his first major at the 2014 Australian Open, defeating Rafael Nadal in the final. He followed that up with victories over Novak Djokovic in the 2015 French Open final and the 2016 US Open final. Under Norman, Wawrinka also climbed to the world number three in his career.

Norman also coached compatriot Robin Soderling, leading him to back-to-back French Open finals in 2009 and 2010. Soderling famously became the first player to beat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in 2009. Norman also worked with former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson.

Outside of the tour, Norman co-founded the Good to Great Tennis Academy in Sweden with former players Mikael Tillstrom and Nicklas Kulti.

For Sinner, the appointment brings a coach with a proven track record of helping elite players make the leap from the top of the rankings to Grand Slam success. Norman’s task will be to build on the foundations laid by Cahill and Vagnozzi as the Italian tries to stay at the top of men’s tennis.

– The end