Jannik Sinner will be hoping that Magnus Norman can help him improve his game even more when they join forces.
Sinner will be coached by Norman from the start of the 2027 season, as he comes in to replace Darren Cahill at the helm of his team.
This is the latest of a number of high-profile coaching roles held by Norman, who has previously worked with Stan Wawrinka, Robin Soderling and Thomas Johansson.
There have been a lot of former players voicing their opinions on Sinner hiring Norman, and now Italian tennis legend Paolo Bertolucci has given his verdict.
Paolo Bertolucci claims Magnus Norman will be ‘crucial’ for helping Jannik Sinner manage pressure
Bertolucci is a former world number 12, and was part of the first Italian Davis Cup winning team in 1976 before their recent dominant run of three consecutive titles.
The former Roland Garros quarter-finalist gave his verdict on Sinner hiring Norman for La Gazzetta dello Sport, as he highlighted the areas where he thinks his compatriot can improve under his new coach.
“So, what can Norman bring to a champion who spent 95 weeks as world number one, won five Grand Slams, and has been held back only by injury this year?” questioned Norman.
“Aggressive rallies have always been the cornerstone of the former Roland Garros finalist’s tennis ethos, and in this sense, with Jannik, the best at producing increasingly accelerated tempos with every shot, he’ll essentially be playing on home soil.
“Naturally, none of the skills honed over the years will be lost, and the team will work to consolidate the established assets, from serving to tactical variations. If anything, Norman will be crucial for another of his key skills: managing pressure and mentally preparing for major events and then for the match.”
Jannik Sinner is set to hire Magnus Norman as his next coach – is this the right move? 🤔
Who would you have hired to be Sinner’s next coach?
Will Jannik Sinner struggle when he returns to tennis?
Another key factor of Sinner hiring Norman as his new coach is that it will also be combined with his return to tennis after injuring his right knee. Sinner has not played a match since winning Wimbledon in July, but he is set to return at the end of this year at the Six Kings Slam exhibition in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
While there are understandably some concerns about how this could impact Sinner, former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski believes that the current world number one will return just as he left off.
“No,” Rusedski responded in the latest edition of his podcast when asked if he is worried about Sinner. “[Andre] Agassi, multiple times, just used the off-season, showed up to Australia and went on and won the title. [Roger] Federer has done it. It’s like walking for these guys.
“[Are] You telling me Sinner’s going to forget how to hit a tennis ball? I mean the guy’s unbelievable. If he’s fit and he’s hungry, and he can get in enough time, greatness always rises to the top. And the guy’s focus and intensity is out of this world.
“I saw someone comparing him to the way Agassi used to hit the ball with just an intensity and a ferocity, but just a more focused mindset week in, week out. So, I’m not worried about Jannik. If Jannik’s healthy, he’s ready to win no matter where he plays. He’s that good.”
At the start of the last three seasons, Sinner has gone straight into the Australian Open, so it will be interesting to see if he plays any warm-up tournaments before the first Grand Slam of 2027.
What is known is that Sinner will no longer be world number one when he returns, a position Alexander Zverev will take over as he takes advantage of the Italian’s absence from the ATP Tour.
