Jannik Sinner’s Former Coach Riccardo Piatti Opens Up About Their Split: “I Know Why He Left”
Riccardo Piatti, who coached Jannik Sinner for seven years and helped mold him into one of the top tennis stars in the world, has broken his silence on their 2022 split. In an emotional conversation with Corriere della Sera, Piatti gave insight into their long-standing professional relationship and revealed the real reasons behind their separation.
Piatti began working with Sinner when the Italian was just 13. Over the next seven years, he helped him rise from a junior prodigy to a legitimate Grand Slam contender. However, their partnership ended in 2022 when Sinner was just 20.
“After Jannik left, I went through a period of confusion,” Piatti admitted. “I stopped living someone else’s life—traveling 52 weeks a year, with everything revolving around the player. It took time to find balance again.”
While he acknowledged that Sinner may have held some resentment toward him over their time together, Piatti made it clear that he has no regrets. “There were things on court he didn’t agree with, but that’s natural in a coach-player relationship,” he said. “I always knew he would leave one day. My job was to be strict and structured—that’s what he needed to reach the top.”
Looking back, Piatti stands by his approach. “Would I do it again? Absolutely. It was the only way to help him succeed.”
And succeed Sinner has. Now 23, the Italian has three Grand Slam titles to his name, including back-to-back Australian Open wins and a US Open crown. He’s been World No. 1 for 10 months, but his journey hasn’t been without controversy.
In February, Sinner received a three-month suspension after testing positive for Clostebol. Although the World Anti-Doping Agency accepted that the result stemmed from accidental contamination, they maintained that athletes remain responsible for their team’s actions. Despite the setback, Piatti believes the time off could be a blessing in disguise.
“He’ll come back strong,” Piatti predicted. “The suspension gave him rest and time to reset. I truly believe he can win all four Slams this year.”
Although their paths have diverged, Piatti says he’s at peace and has returned to his roots. He now coaches young talents at his renowned Piatti Tennis Centre in Bordighera, on the Italian-French border.
“Tennis is still my passion,” he said. “Now, I focus on helping kids chase their dreams.”
Sinner’s Rise to the Top:
- Age: 23
- Grand Slams: 3 (2x Australian Open, 1x US Open)
- Current Ranking: World No. 1 (10 months running)
- Recent Setback: 3-month doping suspension (Clostebol)
- Coach Status: Currently without a coach
