Carlos Moya, Rafael Nadal’s former coach and 1998 French Open champion, has vehemently denied rumors that he will replace Darren Cahill as Jannik Sinner’s coach in 2026, labeling the reports “fake news as big as a house” in an interview with Radio Nacional de España on May 21, 2025. The speculation, sparked by a Russian tennis outlet Bolshe!, claimed Moya would join Sinner’s team following Cahill’s announced retirement at the end of 2025. Moya, who coached Nadal from 2016 to 2024, dismissed the story outright, stating no discussions or plans exist for him to work with the world No. 1.
The rumor gained traction due to Sinner’s stellar 2024 season, including Australian Open and US Open titles, and Cahill’s successful partnership with Simone Vagnozzi, which earned them the 2023 ATP Coach of the Year Award. However, Moya’s Spanish nationality and his loyalty to Nadal, a compatriot and rival to Sinner’s key competitor Carlos Alcaraz, make the pairing unlikely, as noted by Tennis Infinity. Posts on X, including from @News18Sports, echoed Moya’s denial, with fans expressing relief that the rumor was debunked.[](https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/carlos-moya-calls-jannik-sinner-coaching-report-fake-news)[](https://tennis-infinity.com/news/fake-news-carlos-moya-rubbishes-reports-about-him-coaching-jannik-sinner)
Moya’s firm rejection leaves Sinner’s coaching future uncertain, with no confirmed replacement for Cahill. The incident highlights the rapid spread of unverified reports in tennis, particularly as Sinner prepares for the 2025 French Open, where his clay-court game, refined under Cahill and Vagnozzi, faces high expectations against Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.
