Vagnozzi, the "shadow" man. His imprint on Sinner

The Made in Marche brand is present in Jannik Sinner's triumph at the Australian Open. The coach from Castorano Simone Vagnozzi, 41, was awarded in Melbourne together with the student he took to the top of the world. An acknowledgement that underlines the fundamental role of the Piceno coach in the exponential growth of the tennis player from Alto Adige, winner of his third Slam in his career. "A gesture that we appreciate a lot", commented Vagnozzi after receiving the award from the organization together with co-coach Darren Cahill. The coach from Marche, with his proverbial humility, joked: "luckily I don't have Jannik's space problems for trophies". The final saw Sinner dominate the German Alexander Zverev in three sets (6-3, 7-6, 6-3), in what Vagnozzi defines as the best match of the tournament. A victory that bears the signature of the meticulous work of the coach from Castorano, who for three years has been shaping the player who is revealing himself as the new ruler of world tennis. "Compared to last year, he is a completely different player," explains the coach from the Marche region, analyzing the evolution of his pupil. "He is more confident, calmer, with greater certainty in serving. But what makes him special is his extraordinary ability to learn." Vagnozzi does not hide when talking about future prospects: "hard court is his natural surface, but he can win anywhere. Roland Garros and Wimbledon are goals within his reach." And on the recent controversy of Clostebol, the coach from Piceno is categorical: "Sinner is clean, he hasn't done anything unfair and he walks around with his head held high." At the highest moment of Italian tennis, the Marche region can proudly claim one of its main architects. Vagnozzi, who started on the courts of Castorano, is writing the history of world tennis, bringing the experience and expertise of the Marche region to the top of the world. A success story that starts in the Marche region and reaches the Slams, through methodical work and total dedication that are bearing extraordinary fruit. The coach from the Marche region also revealed some behind-the-scenes details of the semifinal against Rune, denying any problems with his athlete's knee: "he didn't have any tendon problems. It was simply a very hot day and he wasn't 100%. These things can happen in a Grand Slam tournament. He was really good at managing that situation and in the final he went further". For Vagnozzi and his student, the work continues: "there's always room for improvement, it's very important to maintain that desire to achieve certain results". Words that reflect the mentality of a coach who, starting from the Marche region, is leaving an indelible mark on world tennis.

Andrea Pongetti