Jannik Sinner’s next coach was confirmed on Monday evening.
Magnus Norman, the current coach of Stan Wawrinka, will work with the world number one during the 2027 ATP season.
Norman will replace Australian coach Darren Cahill, who joined Sinner’s coaching staff in 2022.
Norman – like Sinner – was a successful player on the ATP circuit, achieving a career-high ranking of world number two and reaching the 2000 Roland Garros final.
The Swedish coach also butted heads with eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi.
Andre Agassi and Magnus Norman’s dispute in 1999
In 1999, Agassi became one of the few players to complete the ‘Career Grand Slam’ following his title-winning campaign at Roland Garros.
The American was unable to defend his title a year later, losing in the second round to Slovakian player Karol Kucera.
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Agassi struggled with a blister on his right toe during the match, inhibiting the American’s ability to perform at his absolute best.
“This thing is burning like a son of a b****,” Agassi told his trainer midway through his defeat to Kucera, as per the Los Angeles Times.
Magnus Norman, the third seed at the 2000 French Open, hit out at Agassi following his defeat to Kucera.
“I think he started a trend,” Norman said of Agassi. “He did this three years ago when he was going down, pulling out of tournaments.
“He doesn’t play as many tournaments as usual. I can see in his eyes he’s not really as hot as he was last year. I’m not really surprised.”
Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam titles
- 1992 Wimbledon
- 1994 US Open
- 1995 Australian Open
- 1999 Roland Garros
- 1999 US Open
- 2000 Australian Open
- 2001 Australian Open
- 2003 Australian Open
“I can see it in his eyes,” the Swede added. “Like last year, and even down in Australia, his eyes were like this big, you know. Now they’re getting a little bit smaller.”
A few months later, Agassi responded to Norman’s comments.
“He doesn’t know what pressure is yet,” Agassi, a former world number one, told the New York Times.
“Pressure is when you have everything to lose, when you’ve been there and you have to defend it day after day.”
Magnus Norman’s run to the 2000 Roland Garros final
Norman, born in Filipstad, Sweden, produced some of his best tennis to reach the 2000 Roland Garros final.
The Swedish star, who had advanced to the Australian Open semi-finals earlier that same year, defeated Thierry Guardiola, Fabrice Santoro, Sargis Sargsian, 1999 Roland Garros finalist Andrei Medvedev, Marat Safin and Franco Squillari en route to the championship match in Paris.
In the final, Norman faced fifth-seeded Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten. Four weeks prior to the Roland Garros final, Norman had defeated Kuerten in the Italian Open final, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4.
Kuerten avenged that defeat in dramatic style, triumphing 6–2, 6–3, 2–6, 7–6 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
“Every time I thought I was going to win, and then it was one more, and one more, and one more,” Kuerten remarked after triumphing in three hours and 44 minutes.
