Cahill, the former Australian player turned master coach, has been instrumental in Sinner’s rise. He is one quarter of Sinner’s successful team, alongside fellow coach Simone Vagnozzi, physio Giacomo Naldi and fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara.
Loading
“I believe coaching is on the court but also off the court. I think to be a good coach you have to understand, first of all the player but also the team environment. He [Cahill] is very humble to do that.” Sinner said.
“He has shown this, not only with me, but with so many other players. I am learning a lot from him. I just try to do my best … at the end of the day, we are not only coach and player, but it’s more like we are family. Him, the combination with Simona, has been amazing. They have a lot of respect for each other. I think that’s what makes him very special.”
Cahill has said this is his last year coaching, but Sinner may yet talk him into continuing.
“That’s a good question. We will be answering that in the future,” the world No.1 said.
Before packing and leaving Melbourne on Monday night, Sinner said his second Australian Open title was more enjoyable than his breakthrough victory.
“The first one was kind of a relief, it’s different, it gives you the (confidence) that you can do it; play some great tennis,” he said.
“This one, the second one, maybe I can enjoy it a bit more because it’s different. But every grand slam you win, tournament that you go far, it has its own story. You have to pass difficulties, like I did this year, this makes it very, very special.”
Rather than hit the town, Sinner and his close-knit team had a quiet dinner late on Sunday night.
Loading
“We had a nice dinner with all the team, my brother was here, just having a great time together, which is exactly what we needed. We have been two weeks under many, many people, it was nice to close just with us,” he said.
Sinner admitted pre-tournament he was unsure how he would be received by the Australian crowds after he was embroiled in a drugs saga last year.
In August, he tested positive for minuscule traces of a performance-enhancing drug, Clostebol. He avoided a ban due to a “no fault or negligence” ruling. But, in April, he will face the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland after the World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the International Tennis Integrity Agency’s decision to not suspend him.
Regardless, Sinner said the support he had received had helped propel him to victory.
“The crowd has been amazing. From the beginning of the tournament, but also the week of preparation, a lot of support. That’s what maybe means the most to me,” Sinner said.
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
