Jannik Sinner with his coach and mentor Simone Vagnozzi. © Jannik Sinner N°1 The Winner

“I wouldn’t wish what Jannik went through on anyone.”

Under coach Simone Vagnozzi, Jannik Sinner has made the leap to world No. 1. Now, in an interview, the Italian has spoken for the first time about his protégé's suspension.

18 April 2025

From: dl

Sinner has on Thursday trained on an official pitch for the first time after his suspension – after more than two months off. Since this week, he has been authorized to train on official tennis courts again. The 23-year-old's eagerly awaited comeback on the ATP Tour is rapidly approaching. The Sexten native is suspended until May 4 due to the doping scandal, and a few days later, he will return to action at the Masters in Rome.

His main coach, Simone Vagnozzi, has in a detailed interview with Republic spoke about Sinner's difficult time: "A few weeks away from tennis didn't hurt us. The tour is a carousel that keeps turning; there are hardly any breaks." According to Vagnozzi, the news of the positive doping test was initially "a shock": "I wouldn't wish that on anyone."

“A few weeks away from tennis didn’t hurt us.” Simone Vagnozzi

In the interview, Vagnozzi was also asked about his relationship with Sinner. "At certain times of the year, we spend 24 hours a day together – it's normal for the relationship to go beyond the professional. But there needs to be a balance. It's crucial not to become too close friends, because that sometimes prevents us from making important but necessary decisions. There have never been arguments between us, but there have been heated arguments," the 41-year-old said.

Open trainer question

Vagnozzi's coaching colleague, Darren Cahill, will also be at Sinner's side this season, but then it's over. The Australian star coach will retire at the end of the year and leave the world number one's team. Who will succeed Cahill? "We still have to talk about it. We're quite relaxed – it will work itself out. It has to be someone who knows what it means to be number 1 in the world and who enjoys Jannik's trust," Vagnozzi explained.