Former German tennis player Boris Becker praised Jannik Sinner’s coaching duo after the latter’s match against Tommy Paul on Monday. However, he didn’t expect his statement to backfire, as people slammed him for his thoughts.
Becker wrote, “Best coaching duo in the game right now” on one of the pictures of Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi from the stands at the US Open.
But he was trolled by fans, who questioned him on what the duo was best at. Some also commented that doping should be one aspect of their expertise and asked the German to add that in his comment, too.
Boris, pls elaborate why they’re the best?
— Arif Efendi (@ArifOUO) September 3, 2024
With doping
— Gabriel Maldonado (@Gabomaldonado1) September 3, 2024
is that include the doping
— ushtrasanam yoga (@ushtrasanam) September 3, 2024
Best dopeneedle duo
— PyaasiSherni (@kapeedjan) September 3, 2024
The 2024 Australian Open champion tested positive for doping twice during the Indian Wells tournament earlier this year. However, he was also declared innocent in mid-August. What enraged the fans was that neither Sinner nor ATP provided any information about the world number one’s violation.
At the same time, Sinner’s team also became a target for fans and was slammed for being involved in the doping ‘cover-up.’ His two coaches also couldn’t evade the scrutiny as fans accused them of keeping the issue wrapped up.
Another reason fans blame Cahill is that this is not the first time a student of his has tested positive for doping. Earlier, Andre Agassi and Simona Halep, too, failed doping tests while working with the Australian.
Both incidents took place at the US Open. While Agassi was left off the hook, Halep received an initial four-year ban that was then reduced to nine months.
Hence, fans believe that Cahill, as the coach, should be aware of what his players are doing and what they are up to. His disciples failing tests over and over again don’t put him in a good light.
Sinner’s body contained the performance-enhancing drug Clostebol due to the carelessness of his fitness coach, Umberto Ferrara, and his physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. This caused the world number one to take action against the two and resulted in their firing, but no other change was made in his team.
Becker had supported Sinner’s decision to let go of his two team members and called it a “good decision.” The German offered complete support to the Italian, indicating that he believed in his innocence.
Sinner’s performance in the US Open so far has been nothing short of remarkable. Besides his first-round clash, all his matches so far have been won by him in straight sets. He will next play the 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinal.
