Jannik Sinner with Novak Djokovic
- Coach Darren Cahill downplays comparisons between Jannik Sinner and the Big 3.
- Sinner was on fire with 22-1 record in 2024, rising to No. 2 in rankings after Miami Open win.
- Cahill believes the Big 3’s era of dominance is unrepeatable due to their longevity and impact.
Darren Cahill, the coach of tennis player Jannik Sinner, has dismissed the idea that any player will ever rule the tennis world in the same way as Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer have done during their careers.
Sinner has been victorious in all but one tournament he has entered this year, following his win at the Miami Open.
The exception was the Indian Wells tournament, where Carlos Alcaraz won after coming back from a set down. Prior to that, the Italian player built on his Australian Open victory with another win at the Rotterdam Open.
Sinner’s Miami Open win has also boosted him above Alcaraz to No. 2 in the ATP rankings, with only Djokovic ahead of him. With a match record of 22-1 in 2024, comparisons are being made between him and the tennis legends of the past and present.
Cahill, who has previously coached Andre Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt, and worked with Andy Murray and Fernando Verdasco as part of the Adidas Player Development Program, believes that no one will match the accomplishments of Djokovic, Federer, and Nadal.
“I don’t think anybody should be comparing this generation yet to the generation that we have just seen with Novak, who is still playing, with Federer, Nadal, who is still playing,” Cahill stated, speaking to the media in Miami on Sunday. “What they were able to achieve for so many years is remarkable.”
“I don’t think we will ever see that domination again no matter what. So to be able to coach through that, to live through it, to watch it as a fan, it’s been remarkable how they have pushed their frontier of the game, and made everyone more professional and made everybody play better.
“What you are seeing with the players coming through now is a direct result of their professionalism, of the teams they put together, the way they have tried to inch out every piece of improvement in each of their games.
“They’ve got big teams. They go from the physio to the mental coach to a couple of tennis coaches now to a fitness trainer.
“You’re trying to tick every single box to maximize a player’s career. So this generation is copying and they’re doing pretty much the same thing.
“But I wouldn’t start comparing what Carlos or Jannik or Holger (Rune) or these types of players are doing just yet to the generation prior, because I think that’s unfair. They need time to establish themselves.
“But the level is right up there, and it’s a good level, but they need to win a lot more before you start comparing them to those boys.”
