'Short break' leads Cahill to skip US Open, days after shock Sinner announcement

Jannik Sinner's coaches, Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi, watching on at Wimbledon. (Getty/Julian Finney)

If Jannik Sinner is to defend his title at the upcoming US Open, it will have to be without the presence of Australian coach Darren Cahill.

On Friday, Italian newspaper la Repubblica revealed that Simone Vagnozzi, who is also Sinner's coach, confirmed that Cahill is taking a short break.

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The news arrives just 48 hours after Sinner rocked the tennis world by reappointing fitness trainer Umberto Ferrara, who was part of the world No.1's team during two positive drug tests in March 2024, which led to a three-month ban earlier this year.

Ferrara left his role as Sinner's trainer in August last year, but has returned to help the four-time Slam champion with "immediate effect".

However, Coco Gauff's former coach, Brad Gilbert, replied to a tweet on X, writing, "For the record, this is completely fake news."

If reports are true, it remains to be seen whether Cahill's absence in New York will prove detrimental to Sinner's chances of going back-to-back.

Cahill, 59, confirmed in January that 2025 would be his last season on tour before retirement.

Still, there are growing hints that he could stay on amid a bet he made with Sinner before the Wimbledon final against Carlos Alcaraz.

"Honestly, nothing’s certain at the moment. But we'll all be happy if Darren stays," Vagnozzi said in an interview conducted by the ATP Tour.

He later added, "I have to say that I'm so lucky to have met someone like Darren, both professionally and personally. We connected immediately, and that undoubtedly helped us in our journey. It's never easy to find that chemistry, but we've always prioritised Jannik's interests.

"I'm responsible for the more technical and tactical side of things, and he is more in charge of the mental and emotional aspects. Of course, we share everything, and the most important thing is that the player always hears one united voice."

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