Madison Keys’ Husband Reveals Why He Asked Jannik Sinner’s Coach Darren Cahill for Help: “I Don’t Have an Ego”
Madison Keys beat Aryna Sabalenka in last year's Australian Open to win her first Major, while Jannik Sinner defended his crown by breezing past Alexander Zverev.
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Jannik Sinner, Darren Cahill, Madison Keys, Bjorn Fratangelo (Image via X/Jannik Sinner HQ, Instagram/Bjorn Fratangelo)
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Both Jannik Sinner and Madison Keys have the same task to accomplish at the Australian Open, the main draw of which starts on January 18. They will be competing in the tournament as the defending champions.
Last year in the final, the American ace overcame the then two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. But Sinner, without any difficulty, defended his crown with a straight-set win over World No.3 Alexander Zverev.
Bjorn Fratangelo, Keys’ husband and also his coach since 2023, sat for an interview with journalist Reem Abulleil, during which he revealed that he asked Sinner’s coach Darren Cahill for help about how to successfully defend a Grand Slam title.
I talked to Darren Cahill a little bit during Wimbledon. I have some help at home. I’ve actually offered that if she wanted to bring other people in, I don’t really have an ego, I don’t care if it’s me or not. But she’s kind of content with how things are.
The Australian Open was Keys’ career’s first Grand Slam title. Prior to this win, she made one Major final, at the 2017 US Open, losing that match to Sloane Stephens.
I think it’s just us managing it together as a team and kind of knowing what we’re going to do, and hopefully it can work again. If it doesn’t, you know it’s a long year to make up the results. Everybody starts from zero anyway, and it’s all we can really do.
Bjorn Fratangelo added
Cahill wanted to retire from coaching after the 2025 season, but it seems he has agreed to extend the partnership, though no announcement regarding the same has been made. The Aussie coach joined the World No.2’s team in 2022, and along with Simone Vagnozzi, he helped the youngster reach the No.1 ranking and win his four Grand Slam titles as well as two ATP Finals crowns.
Keys, following her Australian Open triumph, failed to reach another final. She finished the 2025 season with two titles, as apart from the Melbourne Major, she also lifted the Adelaide International by defeating compatriot Jessica Pegula. In the remaining three Majors last year, Keys reached the quarterfinals of the French Open but couldn’t make deep runs at Wimbledon and the US Open.
Mats Wilander backs Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to be the best players of all time
Mats Wilander is convinced that Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz will become two of the best players of all time. During his interview with TNT Sports, the Swede called Sinner the favorite to defend his crown at Melbourne Park ahead of the six-time Grand Slam champion, as he thinks the latter once again would fail to reach the title clash.
It’s hard to believe after having three best players of all time together [Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic], that suddenly we have two guys that are most probably going to become two of the best players of all time. That’s what’s exciting. It’s exciting to see how much more Jannik and Carlitos have improved since we saw them last year.
Prior to arriving in Melbourne on the same flight, Alcaraz and Sinner participated in an exhibition event held in Incheon, South Korea, where the latter suffered a straight-set defeat. Alcaraz, if he wins the first Major of the season, will become the youngest man in the Open Era to complete the Career Grand Slam.
Sinner will complete the Career Grand Slam if he clinches the French Open this year. Last year in the clay-court Major, he squandered a 2-0 lead as well as three championship points in the fourth set against the World No.1.
Also read: Former World No.1 Tips Jannik Sinner to Win the Australian Open Despite Carlos Alcaraz Challenge
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