Jannik Sinner set to encounter the same problem as Carlos Alcaraz in 2026 as Darren Cahill makes his decision

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Jannik Sinner picked up his second Grand Slam title of the year at Wimbledon, but questions remained unanswered as to the future of his coaching staff.

During the Australian Open, Darren Cahill announced his intentions to step down from Sinner’s coaching team at the end of the 2025 season.

Another of Sinner’s coaches, Simone Vagnozzi, later admitted he was trying to convince Cahill to stay, as the team continued to enjoy success together.

After the Wimbledon final, Sinner revealed he had won a bet with Cahill, which would let him decide whether he stayed on for 2026.

As the Italian now turns his attention to the US Open, Cahill has reportedly made his decision, one that could have a lasting effect on the world number one.

Why Darren Cahill’s decision could give Jannik Sinner the same problem as Carlos Alcaraz

Italian media outlet Corriere della Sera has reported that Cahill will not be leaving Sinner’s team at the end of the year as originally planned.

“Darren Cahill will stay by [Jannik] Sinner’s side next year,” they said.

“The Australian coach will travel less at his own request, but he will stay.

“In Melbourne, in January, everything will be as it was before.”

Cahill will remain a key member of Sinner’s team in 2026, but doesn’t plan on attending every ATP tournament the Italian chooses to compete in.

Assuming Cahill makes the trip for the bigger tournaments, fans may become used to seeing Vagnozzi in Sinner’s box for the lower-tier ATP 250 and ATP 500 events.

With this being the case, Sinner will deal with the same problem his biggest rival, Carlos Alcaraz, has been facing recently.

Alcaraz’s head coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, hasn’t been present at every tournament this year, as the Spaniard is often guided by Samuel Lopez instead.

In fact, the sharing of the role led many to suggest Alcaraz should split with Ferrero earlier this year, as his results under Lopez were significantly better than those under the 2003 French Open champion.

The 22-year-old won his first two titles of the year, the Rotterdam Open and the Monte-Carlo Masters, with Lopez as his coach, whereas he seemed to struggle with Ferrero in his corner.

Those concerns have subsequently subsided as Alcaraz won the French Open title with Ferrero in charge, but the difficulties of having a ‘part-time’ coach remain.

Listening to a different voice every week is tough, as every coach will have different ways of teaching, regardless of how aligned they are in their core values.

Maintaining consistency, one of Sinner’s greatest strengths, could be tough in 2026, as Cahill drifts in and out of his travelling team.

The likelihood is that they will find a way to manage, but it will certainly be something to keep an eye on as the season progresses.

Boris Becker reacts to Darren Cahill’s retirement U-turn

Taking to X, former world number one Boris Becker posted his two-word reaction to Cahill’s decision.

“Good call,” he said.

Whilst Cahill is best known for his success as a coach, he also enjoyed a solid playing career, enjoying his best Grand Slam performance at the 1988 US Open, reaching the semifinals.

En route to the last four, Cahill secured his sole career victory over Becker, defeating him 6-3, 6-3, 6-2, in the second round.

Losing to Sweden’s Mats Wilander in the semis, Cahill failed in his bid to win the US Open title and was made to wait until his coaching career took off to get his hands on the trophy.

In 2001, coaching his fellow Aussie Lleyton Hewitt, Cahill finally won the US Open and doubled his tally when Sinner beat Taylor Fritz in the 2024 final.

Cahill will no doubt hope to add a third US Open title to his collection when Sinner returns to defend his crown in New York later this year.

The 2025 US Open is scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 24.