Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

“We Try To Learn From The Best” – Jannik Sinner’s Coach Darren Cahill Reveals How Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer’s Game Inspired Italian’s Late-Season Surge

Cahill breaks down Sinner’s evolution through lessons drawn from the Big Three

Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Jannik Sinner capped his 2025 season by winning a second straight ATP Finals title without dropping a set, defeating Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(4), 7-5 in Turin on Sunday. The victory made him the first player to claim back-to-back titles at the event without losing a set, closing a year in which he pushed Alcaraz for the world No. 1 ranking but fell just short. After the win, his coach Darren Cahill detailed how studying Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer shaped the adjustments that defined Sinner’s late-season surge.

What a year it's been for Jannik Sinner! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/lp1EQsKGkC
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) November 18, 2025

Inside Sinner’s Tactical Growth by the Influence of the Big 3

The Turin triumph followed titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon, Paris Masters, Beijing and Vienna, marking the Italian’s second most successful season. But the turning point came after his US Open final loss to Alcaraz, when coach Simone Vagnozzi said he “saw some issues” in Sinner’s game, especially on serve. Cahill shared that view and highlighted why the serve became the centerpiece of their work. “You only have control over one shot in tennis, and that is the serve,” he said.

Cahill praised the team’s efforts to refine the motion. “Jannik and Simone have done an incredible job over the last four or five weeks to reorganize the serve and find that rhythm and fluidity that has allowed them to increase their first serve percentage.” He added that the goal was not simply accuracy. “Instead, he has increased his speed and is hitting closer to the lines, thus earning more free points.”

When the player you coach is Jannik Sinner 🤣#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/RqNGvrCjQI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 16, 2025

Cahill also explained how the Big Three informed their approach. He compared Sinner and Alcaraz to Federer in the way they apply pressure. “They don’t let you breathe… then they come back to serve and go ‘bang bang bang bang,’ a bit like Federer used to do in his day.” He continued, “We try to learn from the best: Rafa, Novak, and Roger, and apply what we can to put as much pressure as possible on our opponents.”

Looking ahead, Cahill believes Sinner’s ceiling remains high. “There is still room for improvement… We want him to play his best tennis when he is 28, 29, 30 years old.” The atmosphere in Turin only amplified the moment. “These victories are fantastic… it was a great team victory.”

Back-to-back ATP Finals titles on home soil 🇮🇹

Jannik Sinner is unstoppable on indoor hard courts 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/qT3n2fButX
— TNT Sports (@tntsports) November 17, 2025

Sinner’s win narrowed Alcaraz’s head-to-head lead to 10-6 after the pair contested three Slam finals in 2025. Cahill also praised Alcaraz’s conduct. “Carlos has been incredible… He’s an extraordinary guy.” For Sinner, the season ended with another trophy, a deeper rivalry and a blueprint built from the sport’s greatest players.

Mandatory Image Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports

Coach Darren Cahill

Inspired By

Jannik Sinner

Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal

Roger Federer

Rudra Dubey

nfl

mma

I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.