Darren Cahill has been crowned the ATP’s Coach of the Year for 2023 – a decision that has rubbed some Novak Djokovic fans the wrong way. The Australian was announced on Saturday AEDT as the joint winner of the award with Simone Vagnozzi for mentoring Jannik Sinner, the rising star of world tennis.
Cahill’s win has sparked some controversy among Djokovic’s fans, who feel that Goran Ivanisevic, the former Wimbledon champion who coaches world No.1 Djokovic, deserved the award. Many argue that Ivanisevic’s contribution to Djokovic’s improved serve makes him a more deserving candidate.
It is the latest honor for Cahill, who has also mentored former world No.1s Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi, and Simona Halep. The 22-year-old Sinner led Italy to their first Davis Cup championship since 1976, won his first Masters 1000 trophy, and made it to the title match at the ATP Finals before losing to Novak Djokovic. Sinner also finished the 2023 season ranked at a career-best No.4.
Additionally, other ATP award winners included Jan-Lennard Struff for Comeback Player of the Year and 19-year-old Arthur Fils for Newcomer of the Year. Carlos Alcaraz won the Stefan Edberg Sportsmanship Award, and Felix Auger-Aliassime received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award.
Meanwhile, Simona Halep, a two-time grand slam champion, is currently facing a devastating drugs ban. She believes her career will be over if the Court of Arbitration for Sport rules against her in her appeal of a four-year doping suspension. Halep tested positive for the drug Roxadustat at the 2022 US Open and was cited for irregularities in her biological passport. She is no longer working with coach Patrick Mouratoglou’s academy and has not spoken to him in months.
Cahill has been a staunch supporter of his former client midst her appeal. A hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sport is scheduled for February 7-9.
The controversy surrounding Cahill’s win as the ATP’s Coach of the Year continues to be a topic of discussion among tennis fans, particularly those who feel that Ivanisevic, the coach of world No.1 Djokovic, was more deserving of the award.