The 4 players Darren Cahill has coached to the world No 1 ranking as Jannik Sinner joins list

Jannik Sinner has joined an elite club of players who legendary tennis coach Darren Cahill has helped become world No 1.

The Italian star is set to become the fourth player to top the rankings under the guidance of Cahill after Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Simona Halep.

Following Novak Djokovic ‘s withdrawal from the 2024 French Open, it was confirmed that Sinner will replace the great Serb as the ATP world No 1 when the rankings update after Roland Garros.

Cahill was a successful professional player, having been ranked as high as 10th in doubles and 22nd in singles in a career spanning from 1984 to 1995.

Since his retirement, Cahill, who has the nickname “Killer”, has become a hugely successful coach at the elite level of the sport.

Here, we look at the four players Cahill has coached to the world No 1 ranking.

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Lleyton Hewitt

Cahill established his reputation as a leading coach during a three-year partnership with his Australian compatriot Hewitt, which started in 1998.

With Cahill in his coaching box, Hewitt claimed his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2001 US Open, where he crushed tennis great Pete Sampras 7-6(4), 6-1, 6-1 in the final.

In November 2001, two months after his Flushing Meadows triumph, Hewitt became the youngest player to attain the ATP world No 1 ranking at the age of 20 years and eight months. This record has since been broken by Carlos Alcaraz.

Hewitt won his 10th and final title under Cahill’s guidance at the 2001 ATP Finals in Sydney, shortly before the pair split in December 2001 at the end of a season the Aussie ended as world No 1.

Andre Agassi

In early 2002, Cahill became the coach of tennis icon Agassi after the American ended his massively successful partnership with Brad Gilbert.

The following year, Cahill helped Agassi win his eighth and final Major title at the 2003 Australian Open, where he lost just one set during a dominant title run.

The Australian oversaw Agassi’s return to world No 1 in April 2003, which made the American the oldest player to top the ATP Rankings at the time at 33 years and 131 days. This is a distinction Novak Djokovic now holds.

Agassi was coached by Cahill until his retirement in 2006 and won 11 titles during a highly fruitful collaboration lasting over four years.

Simona Halep

Following spells coaching players such as Andy Murray, Ana Ivanovic, Fernando Verdasco and Daniela Hantuchova, Cahill joined forces with Halep in 2015.

With Cahill in her corner, the Romanian reached the top of the WTA Rankings for the first time in October 2017 and achieved successive year-end No 1 finishes in 2017 and 2018.

Halep reached three Major finals under Cahill and won her first Grand Slam title at the 2018 French Open. The pair’s hugely successful partnership ended after six years in late 2021.

Jannik Sinner

Cahill joined Italian coach Simone Vagnozzi on Sinner’s coaching team in July 2022 and has played a key role in the 22-year-old’s rise to the top of the sport.

Sinner has won eight titles since the Cahill’s arrival, including his maiden Grand Slam title at the 2024 Australian Open in January.

Six of these titles have come since August last year during a superb spell for the Italian, who has lost only four matches since the US Open in September.

Sinner will make history by becoming the first Italian player in tennis history to be ranked No 1 in the world, and at 22, he will likely keep getting stronger under the guidance of two superb coaches.

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