Despite competing in only nine tournaments so far, Jannik Sinner continues to prove why he’s the Italian No. 1. Facing Alexander Zverev in the Vienna Open final was no easy task, but he played with calm brilliance. Their last clash came at the Australian Open, where Sinner beat Zverev and won the title for the second time. Now, in Vienna, he created another unforgettable moment against the German. The Italian battled through three sets to claim his second Vienna crown since 2023. Even so, there was a tense moment when Sinner himself seemed concerned mid-match.

On Sunday, Sinner won a hard-fought duel against Zverev. Early on, the World No. 3 came out blazing and stole the opening set, shaking the Italian’s rhythm for a brief spell. But Sinner dug deep, regrouped, and stormed through the last two sets. In the third, he began to cramp in his left hamstring, his movement visibly slowing. Still, he refused to let go of the fight.

When asked about it afterward, Jannik Sinner was open about what went through his mind in that moment (translated from Italian): “This victory makes me feel really good. The final started off very badly for me, but I tried to stay mentally locked into the match and play my best tennis when it mattered,” he said. “It was tough, but the important thing was to try not to give up, to stay in it and make the right choices at the right moments. That was the key, serving well and conserving energy during my service games.”

The World No.2 shook off the cramps to beat Zverev 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in Vienna, mixing grit with smart serving. Both players fired 11 aces, but Sinner’s single double fault stood out next to Zverev’s four. The German landed 75% of his first serves, edging Jannik’s 68%, yet the Italian’s accuracy made the difference. He won 82% of his first-serve points and 62% on his second, while Zverev couldn’t keep pace. Clutch in the key moments, Sinner broke twice from eight chances, won more receiving points, and finished with 99 points to Sascha’s 87, and 16 games to 14. He had every answer in a tight, suspense-filled final.

For a tense moment, those cramps were reminiscent of the Shanghai Masters. Where, facing Tallon Griekspoor, he hobbled through the third set before retiring and forfeiting his title defense. The scenario felt eerily familiar, but this time, Sinner flipped the script.

Additionally, his dominance on indoor hard courts rocketed to a jaw-dropping 21-match win streak stretching from 2023 to 2025. His streak doesn’t just put him in elite company; it ties him with Stefan Edberg for the longest in the Open Era and keeps him right on the heels of icons like John McEnroe, Novak Djokovic, and Roger Federer.

It’s all going well for the Italian. But it’s only a matter of time before his coach, Darren Cahill, officially hangs up the coaching hat. And Jannik is indeed emotional to see the Aussie off.

Jannik Sinner shares some heartfelt words for his coach

At the start of the year, Darren Cahill surprised everyone by announcing that 2025 would be his final season coaching on the ATP Tour. Turning 60, he admitted the years of travel and nonstop grind had caught up with him. Still, not everyone’s ready to believe he’s truly stepping away. According to Il Corriere della Sera, Cahill might stick around in 2026 as part of Team Sinner, just in a lighter role. The plan? Let Simone Vagnozzi handle the main duties while Cahill pops in for key tournaments and fewer trips.

Cahill’s career resume already reads like tennis history. He’s worked with legends like Andre Agassi, Simona Halep, and Lleyton Hewitt. But his connection with Jannik Sinner hits differently. Since joining forces in July 2022, Cahill hasn’t just coached Sinner; he’s grounded him. As Sinner put it in a post shared by Jannik Files on X, “Darren has given me a lot and I’m grateful for him. He’s not just a coach to me, much more. But we have to understand that he’s 60, so we’ll see. Vagnozzi and I haven’t discussed about the 2nd coach, he needs free time so we’ll talk and decide calmly.”

Under Cahill and Vagnozzi, Sinner has become a superstar. Together, they’ve captured four Grand Slams, reached deep finals everywhere they’ve played, and racked up 12 ATP singles titles, excluding the majors. His trophy haul already boasts one ATP Finals crown, four Masters 1000s (Canada 2023, Miami 2024, Cincinnati 2024, Shanghai 2024), and seven ATP 500/250 titles, including China Open 2023, Vienna 2023, Rotterdam 2024, Halle 2024, and China Open 2025. The results speak for themselves.

Still, Sinner’s not ready to say goodbye. “We haven’t talked yet, to be honest,” he admitted. “We said we are going to finish the year, and then we might ask him for a long chat, trying to convince him… We aim for something very positive [for him to stay], and I will need a lot of hope for that.”

For now, Jannik Sinner’s mindset stays locked on the next challenge. The Paris Masters is up next, a tournament he has yet to crack! Can the World No.2  keep the momentum alive and finally grab his first Masters 1000 title of 2025?