Rumors of Coaching Sinner are Fake News

By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, May 20, 2025
Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d’Italia Facebook

Rumors that World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is reportedly set to hire a former French Open champion as his new coach in 2026 are, accordiong to Carlos Moya, “fake news.”

Moya, who reportedly said the following words on Radio Nacional de Espana: “Fake news as big as a house.”

It was reported that Sinner was set to hire former No. 1 Moya, who previously coached King of Clay Rafa Nadal, as his new coaching starting in 2026, according to a published report by Russian media site Bolshe! 

Current coach Darren Cahill, who has coached Sinner, Andre Agassi, Lleyton Hewitt and Simona Halep to the world No. 1 ranking, announced in January that 2025 would be his final year coaching the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion. Simone Vagnozzi, Sinner’s long-time co-coach, is reportedly unable to travel every week, which compelled Sinner to start searching for another coach to join Vagnozzi on the team in 2026.

Moya joined former No. 1 Rafa Nadal’s team back in 2016 when Toni Nadal, Rafa’s uncle and original coach, was still head coach. When Toni Nadal formally stepped down, Moya stepped up and is credited with helping the King of Clay mix his serving patters and play with more aggression in his post-30 renaissance.

Carlos Moyá to coach Jannik Sinner!

As Bolshe! has learned, the world No.1 will start working with the Spanish coach in 2026.

Details: https://t.co/BgBYK0liOg

— Sofya Tartakova (@CentralCourt) May 20, 2025

In recent months, Moya has told Spanish media he is enjoying his time at home away from the global tennis treadmill.

The 1998 Roland Garros champion Moya also said he had received inquiries but was waiting until he felt he had the right “emotional connection” with a player before committing to coaching again.

If the Bolshe! report was true and Sinner and Moya did join forces it would mean both of the game’s most gifted young superstars, Sinner and rival and Rome champion Carlos Alcaraz, would be coached by former Spanish No. 1 Grand Slam champions. Juan Carlos Ferrero, Alcaraz’s long-time coach, is Moya’s former Spanish Davis Cup teammate.

Regarding this whole switcheroo, we have two questions: 1. If the story about Moya coaching Sinner was indeed fake news, what the heck was Bolshe! thinking? 2. If Moya is going to coach Sinner, why would he say it was fake news?

Former Indian Wells champion and ex-Roger Federer coach Ivan Ljubicic, former Jasmine Paolini coach Renzo Furlan have also been mentioned as potential coaching candidates for Sinner in 2026, according to French publication L’Equipe.