"Still a long way to go, but he can reach that level": Jannik Sinner's coach believes he can follow Federer, Nadal and Djokovic's footsteps
ATP
Jannik Sinner’s coach, Simone Vagnozzi, believes the recent Australian Open champion possesses the qualities to chase the achievements of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. However, the Italian coach noted that Sinner still has room to improve on other surfaces.
The World No. 1 once again showcased his dominance on hard courts by defeating Alexander Zverev in straight sets. This marks Sinner’s third consecutive major final victory, all on hard courts, adding to his Australian Open (2024, 2025) and US Open (2024) titles.
"Still a long way to go, but he can reach that level"
Since 2022, Sinner has been working with a coaching duo comprising Australian Darren Cahill and Italian Simone Vagnozzi, who have been instrumental in his rise to the top of the rankings.
After Sinner secured his third Grand Slam title, Vagnozzi was asked if Sinner could be compared to the Big-3 members. “You know, he’s still young. He has already won three tournaments. You never know what happens in the future, but for sure he is the guy that tries to improve every day, goes on court, practises, and tries to add new things to his game, trying to improve physically,” he said.
“So I think he’s one of the guys that can reach the top level. I mean, when we speak about the top level, we think about Novak, Roger, or Rafa,” added the former World No. 161. “We are still a long way off, but for sure he is one of the guys that can try to reach this kind of level.”
“So I think, for sure, his natural surface is hard court. Last year he played semis in Paris and the quarters at Wimbledon. The year before, semis,” he added. “For sure, clay is maybe a little bit more difficult. But he can also play well there, and I think he can try to win Roland Garros.”
“I think Wimbledon last year, he was a little bit unlucky because he wasn’t 100% on the day he lost to Medvedev; otherwise, we probably would have had a small chance to win Wimbledon as well. I think we have a chance to be ready to try to win both Paris and Wimbledon. So we will see.”
Sinner currently holds a commanding lead in the ATP Rankings after defending his 2,000 points from the Australian Open crown. He leads the rankings with 11,830 points, well ahead of Alexander Zverev (8,135) and Carlos Alcaraz (7,010).
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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