POPYRIN'S COACH NOMINATED FOR TOP HONOUR; CAHILL EXCLUDED

Xavier Malisse, Alexei Popyrin's coach, is in contention to receive the ATP Coach of the Year Award, but well-respected Australian coach Darren Cahill has been controversially overlooked.

2024 has been a breakthrough season to remember for Popyrin, reaching a career-high singles ranking of No.23 and clinching his maiden Masters 1000 title in Canada.

“My two coaches have been unbelievable for me, Neville Godwin and Xavier Malisse,” Popyrin said after winning the biggest title of his career.

“They kind of flipped my game upside down and kind of mentally, helped me get back on the right track after my very disappointing year in 2022.”

Although those were outstanding achievements, he will be remembered for knocking Novak Djokovic off his perch in the US Open third round; an enthralling encounter on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

As a result, Malisse has been recognised for his coaching efforts with the Sydneysider by being nominated for the season's best coach, as voted by other coaches on the Tour.

However, despite coaching Italian sensation Jannik Sinner to an unfathomable season in which records were shattered, Cahill wasn't nominated.

Sinner achieved the world No.1 ranking for the first time, winning two Grand Slams, three Masters 1000 titles, the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup in a year in which he obtained a win-loss record of 73-6.

The 23-year-old became the first male player since Roger Federer in 2005 to go a full season without losing a match in straight sets. Also, he became the first player in history to win two majors, the ATP Finals and Davis Cup in the same season.

Before the US Open commenced in August, shocking revelations revealed Sinner had tested positive twice for Clostebol during the Indian Wells 1000 event in March, a banned substance that was rubbed into his skin unknowingly by physio Giacomo Naldi who had used a healing spray to treat a wounded finger.

The ability to trace back how one billionth of a gram entered Sinner's system has so far saved him from facing severe punishment, but a ruling by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is expected after the 2025 Australian Open.