Jannik Sinner’s coaches had just begun speaking with reporters at the Australian Open on Friday night when they were interrupted by a gate crasher. 

Unbeknown to Darren Cahill and Simone Vagnozzi, Sinner was watching on from the side of Melbourne Park’s main media room with the intention of heckling his two mentors.

Yelling out to Cahill, he jokingly asked what it was like to be his coach, to which the affable Australian replied amid much laughter: “We are not paid enough.”

Such moments illustrate the camaraderie that Cahill enjoys with Sinner and his support team.

Cahill describes the close-knit culture they have developed as feeling like a “family”, revealing they have a lot of fun in each other’s company.

But they also know when to knuckle down and work hard, with each team member mindful of their own responsibilities.

Cahill is quick to highlight the work done by Vagnozzi, saying the former Italian professional deserved “99 per cent of the credit” for Sinner’s success, while he is playing more of an “overseeing role”.

Vagnozzi began working with Sinner in February 2022, before Cahill signed up later that year, and under their guidance the Italian has achieved new heights in his career.

In 2023, he won his maiden Masters 1000 title in Toronto, reached the ATP Finals decider and finished the year ranked number four in the world.

The momentum has continued through to the Australian Open, with Sinner to contest his first major final following his 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3 victory over 10-time champion Novak Djokovic in the semis on Friday.

“He [Sinner] gets on the practice court, he takes the information, and he loves to work on things that are going to make him a better tennis player,” Cahill said.

“We knew that Novak was struggling in the first couple of sets. Everybody could see that.

“But we also knew that Novak was going to make a huge push in the third and fourth sets. He [Sinner] did an amazing job.”

Cahill may be modest in detailing his involvement in coaching Sinner, but his influence cannot be underestimated, nor has it gone unnoticed.

After his loss to Sinner, Djokovic praised Cahill and noted it is “very helpful” for his younger rival to have the renowned coach in his corner, given his experience in guiding players to win major titles.

Cahill coached Lleyton Hewitt when he won the 2001 US Open as a 20-year-old, before they parted ways soon after his fellow South Australian became world number one.