"I wasn't suffering with her" - Darren Cahill on mixed emotions with Simona Halep after her devastating loss at 2017 French Open final
WTA
Australian tennis coach Darren Cahill worked with tennis star Simona Halep from 2016 till 2019, guiding the Romanian tennis star to her first Grand Slam title in 2018. However, their working relationship had several ups and downs.
Halep recently announced her retirement following a lengthy hiatus after serving a doping suspension. The former World No.1 returned to the WTA tour but was a shell of her former self, and made her surprise retirement announcement following her first round loss at the 2025 Winners Open in front of her home crowd.
Staying positive after a loss almost backfired on him, recalls Cahill
During Cahill's tenure with Halep, the Romanian made her first Grand Slam final at the 2017 French Open. She would face Latvian Jelena Ostapenko for the title, and despite being up a set and a break, Halep would let the lead slip away as Ostapenko rallied back to score a 4-6 6-4 6-3 victory.
In an interview with The Tennis Insider Club podcast, Cahill spoke about how much pressure Halep was facing to become the first Romanian woman tennis player to win a Grand Slam singles title. Following her loss, the Australian coach attempted to remain positive and upbeat over the next few weeks, which did not sit well with a devastated Halep.
"I was showing no empathy," recalled Cahill. "I wasn't suffering with her. I was suffering, but I wasn't showing it. I was positive. And she wanted me to be miserable like she was. But it is true because misery loves misery in the tough moments. And all she wanted to see from me was that I was feeling as bad as she was.
"I walked over to her the next day, I said it’s all on me, the last eight weeks is on me. I made some mistakes - tried to be positive and whatnot but I know you’re suffering. And I started having tears, she was crying, I hugged her and she goes 'I’ve been waiting for this hug for three months!'"
Halep would right the ship not long after, winning her first Grand Slam title at the 2018 French Open.
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- Now Raducanu is relegated to "training sessions" with event promoters?
mandoist02-03-2025 - What a poor video from WTA Ventures.MrAndreeva28-02-2025
- There's been no medical statement. Just players who ate at the same place. There's more to diarrhea attacks than just food when you're in Mexico.mandoist27-02-2025
- Send this guy back to Shakira. Ah no. Too late. She dumped him.MrAndreeva27-02-2025
- Dealing with mental issues and various instabilities is up to the person and those surrounding them to deal with; not the public. BTW: Such fragile personalities should never be anywhere near anti-Social Media... and apparently plastic chairs.mandoist25-02-2025
- FWIW: Ending a public farewell with a line like, "Wishing you nothing but success and happiness in your future endeavors," is a corporate Tool used by those whom had/have alternative reasons they do not wish to reveal.mandoist24-02-2025
- Lena does not need a special coach. She is not the same person she once was. Look at your photos -- when is the last time you saw that smile and sparkle in her eyes? When is the last time you saw her family in attendance? I believe it was once this season; sister Ana accompanied her to Australia. Perhaps Lena needs time away from tennis; time with professional help? If nothing else, her family should hold an intervention to snap her out of the hold Vukov has on her. It's sad to watch her lose matches she should be winning. Sadder still to see her vacuous facial expressions.mandoist24-02-2025
- Thank you, Boris!! Finally someone speaking common sense!! I am so sick of the stupid, ignorant comments by the players who have not READ THE FACTS!!!Rapunzel18-02-2025
- Thank you, Boris!! Finally someone speaking common sense!! I am so sick of the stupid, ignorant comments by the players who have not READ THE FACTS!!!Rapunzel18-02-2025
- So this is how ATP and ITIA solve their ineptness?mandoist17-02-2025
