Last year, Jannik Sinner‘s coach, Darren Cahill, revealed how he has used the same strategy when working with Andre Agassi to make sure the 23-year-old is “ready” to win a Grand Slam. Guess what? This year, he has won two Grand Slam titles! Sinner has been undefeated at the hard-court Slams this year. His coach recently gave an interview to ESPN and during that interview spoke about Sinner’s elite mindset and how Agassi played a crucial role in his US Open triumph.

Cahill joined Sinner’s team in July 2022 and since then his performance graph has slowly crept up and up with every season. Apart from winning two Grand Slam titles, Sinner also became the world number one in his tenure. During that interview with ESPN, Darren Cahill revealed that Jannik was “ready” to pounce on his ‘prey’ in the final. He revealed how Andre Agassi’s pep-talk before the match may have just done wonders for his confidence levels.

“This morning he practiced well. This morning we were talking to Andre Agassi in the locker room. He was talking about his game, and his mentality, and his composure also in the big moments,” said Cahill. The 58-year-old Aussie tennis coach further added, “Even when he was tested in that third set, I still felt like he felt like he could get back into it and turn it around which he was able to do. So, he’s got this champion mindset that I think a lot of players don’t have. Certain players do have it for sure. But I believe he was born with it and he loves those situations and those moments.”

Darren Cahill is quite a popular figure in the tennis world. Apart from working with Agassi and Sinner, he has also worked with Lleyton Hewitt and Simona Halep. He coached Agassi from early 2002 to 2006 and during his tenure, the American tennis star won his eighth Grand Slam title at the 2003 AO. So, seeing Sinner getting the trophy from the hand of his former student, Agassi must have been a very special moment for him. Agassi’s daughter Jaz, was also spotted sharing this memorable moment on her social media.

However, this isn’t the first time that, Andre Agassi spoke about Jannik Sinner’s excellence. During the 2024 AO, we saw Agassi heap praise on the Italian after he won his first major title.

Andre Agassi reveals how Jannik Sinner reminds him of his own playing days

Sinner’s rapid rise over the last few months has drawn in comparisons of his playing style to that of tennis legend Andre Agassi. During the 2024 AO, Agassi was asked to name a player who he finds a bit of similarity with himself. In reply, he revealed that Jannik Sinner’s incredible ball-striking ability reminds him of his own tennis days.

“Listen I always have a soft spot for just a great ball striker. It’s just there is something about it that just makes me go ohh. The only peace I had on the tennis court was when I hit a ball dead perfect. And so you know I was somebody like sinner hit the ball and I just go that’s got to feel good, the sound. But I also like the IQ of it all,” said Agassi.

Even when Jannik Sinner became the world number one, Agassi was among the first ones to congratulate the Italian. He said he couldn’t think of anyone else who deserves this more than Sinner. “If the universe had a tennis tournament, Earth would pick you,” said the 54-year-old. What does Sinner think of these comparisons with Agassi?

Well, when the Italian Davis Cup team captain Corrado Barazzitti spoke about the same of Sinner having a similar game style to Agassi, the youngster said that a comparison with a tennis legend like Andre Agassi is a “huge compliment.” Recently, Agassi was also spotted defending Jannik Sinner in the doping saga. He said, “I don’t think he cheats.” Agassi is an eight-time Grand Slam champion! How many do you think Sinner can grab in his career?