Jannik Sinner's coach raises eyebrows with verdict on US Open final loss
Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner has made a strong start to the Asian swing, winning the China Open, but his coach Simone Vagnozzi knows there is still work to be done
Simone Vagnozzi has revealed that he wasn't shocked by Jannik Sinner's crushing defeat to Carlos Alcaraz in the recent US Open final.
The Italian entered Flushing Meadows as the top seed and reigning champion, but was overwhelmed by Alcaraz in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 loss that also cost him his world No. 1 status.
Sinner has been unstoppable on hard courts in recent years, yet appeared completely out of sorts during key moments of the US Open final. Vagnozzi, who became part of Sinner's coaching setup in 2022 alongside Darren Cahill and helped elevate him to elite status, has acknowledged that Alcaraz was simply superior on the day.
"The loss in New York, in my opinion, isn't that surprising," Vagnozzi told Corriere dello Sport. "At that point, Carlos was better than Jannik psychologically, physically, and tennis-wise.
"But we mustn't forget that he too had five difficult months, and today they're trying to make Jannik look like a player in crisis, in a year in which he won two Grand Slams and reached finals every week. He's doing extraordinary things. Plus, like everyone else, we always want to improve."
Following his four-set loss to Alcaraz in New York, Sinner acknowledged he was "too predictable" and expressed his willingness to accept more defeats if it meant making necessary changes to his playing style.
Those adjustments appear to be working already, as the world No. 2 captured the China Open title earlier this week, defeating rising star Learner Tien in the final.
Vagnozzi has been impressed with Sinner's performance in China so far, and the Italian is now gearing up to defend his title at the Shanghai Masters. He's currently the top-ranked player in the draw following Alcaraz's withdrawal, but there's still work ahead.
"You know, sometimes I'm surprised by how much people talk about certain things. Sometimes things work, sometimes less so," said Sinner's coach, referring to the technical adjustments they've already made.
"In the United States, Jannik didn't serve very well, and we made some adjustments: his movement changed the day before arriving in China. During the first few days in Beijing, he adapted and then served very well.
"Then, it's clear that something new always needs to be added to the game, otherwise we become predictable. This doesn't mean Sinner has to become a serve-and-volley player.
"There are drop shots and slices, but also other variations, whether it's taking a down-the-line first, returning more aggressively, playing a kick, or going to the body. It's simply about improving; I don't find anything surprising about it."
Sinner will get the chance to continue honing his skills when he faces off against Daniel Altmaier in his opening match at the Shanghai Masters on Saturday. However, it might be some time before he squares off against Alcaraz again.
The next competition they're both slated to participate in is the Paris Masters, set for the end of this month. They've also secured their spots for the ATP Finals in Turin, and there's a good chance Spain and Italy might face off in the Davis Cup Finals at the season's close.