{"id":1792227,"date":"2026-02-25T15:00:19","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T12:00:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1792227"},"modified":"2026-02-25T15:00:19","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T12:00:19","slug":"jannik-sinner-critics-told-to-take-a-deep-breath-as-serena-williams-ex-coach-backs-resurgence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1792227","title":{"rendered":"Jannik Sinner critics told to &#8216;take a deep breath&#8217; as Serena Williams&#8217; ex-coach backs resurgence"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">Jannik Sinner critics told to \u2018take a deep breath\u2019 as Serena Williams\u2019 ex-coach backs resurgence<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/oli-dickson-jefford\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Oli Dickson Jefford                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"25 Feb 2026 3:00 PM\" data-ps-date=\"25 Feb 2026 3:00 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1772031619\"><br \/>\n                            25 Feb 2026 3:00 PM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/news\/jannik-sinner-critics-told-take-a-deep-breath-rick-macci-backs-resurgence\" class=\"!text-info hover:!text-brand\" aria-label=\"Share to facebook\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <a 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href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Fnews%2Fjannik-sinner-critics-told-take-a-deep-breath-rick-macci-backs-resurgence\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a class=\"!text-share-icon hover:!text-share-icon-active flex items-center justify-center\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" aria-label=\"Follow Tennis365 on Google Search\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"Jannik Sinner critics told to \u2018take a deep breath\u2019 as Serena Williams\u2019 ex-coach backs resurgence\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/d2me2qg8dfiw8u.cloudfront.net\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Jannik-Sinner-Rick-Macci-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Jannik Sinner and Rick Macci.\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Tennis star Jannik Sinner and acclaimed coach Rick Macci.                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\">\n<p>Acclaimed coach Rick Macci has come to the defence of Jannik Sinner after the Italian faced criticism from some quarters for his start to 2026.<\/p>\n<p>World No 2 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/jannik-sinner\">Sinner<\/a> has proven to be one of the most successful tennis players of his era to date, winning four Grand Slam singles titles and spending 66 weeks atop the ATP Rankings.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/wimbledon\/jannik-sinner-becomes-first-italian-win-wimbledon-carlos-alcaraz-streaks-ended\">The 24-year-old is the reigning Wimbledon champion<\/a> and has reached at least the semi-final in all of his last six Grand Slam appearances, though he has faced some question marks at the start of 2026.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/australian-open\/novak-djokovic-lost-for-words-rolling-back-years-end-jannik-sinners-title-defence\">Sinner\u2019s reign as the two-time defending Australian Open champion was ended by Novak Djokovic last month<\/a>, with the Serbian snapping a five-match losing streak against the Italian in a thrilling five-set semi-final.<\/p>\n<p>Prior to that loss, Sinner had won his last 19 Australian Open matches and his last 20 matches in total, having won his last three tournaments of 2025.<\/p>\n<p>The Italian returned to court at the Qatar Open last week and was backed by many to face leading rival Carlos Alcaraz in the final, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/jannik-sinners-speaks-qatar-open-loss-jakub-mensik\">though he was beaten at the quarter-final stage by Jakub Mensik in three sets<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Many have pondered if there is anything significant about Sinner\u2019s two early defeats this year, though he has now found a welcome form of defence in the form of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/rick-macci\">Macci<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Taking to Twitter\/X, the former coach of Serena and Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, and Jennifer Capriati \u2014 among others \u2014 claimed that Sinner\u2019s critics were overreacting.<\/p>\n<h2>Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/novak-djokovic-rafael-nadal-roger-federer-most-difficult-opponent-goat-ivan-ljubicic\">Federer, Nadal, Djokovic? Former world No 3 names toughest opponent and gives GOAT verdict<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/craig-tiley-united-states-tennis-association-announcement-australian-open-blow-confirmed\">Australian Open blow confirmed as United States Tennis Association makes big announcement<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Macci wrote: \u201cMany people throwing splinters at Sinner. Everybody has to take a deep breath.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo say he will not win one more Slam they are right and wrong. The Italian Flamethrower will win more than 12 more. The Red Rocket has fuel in the pocket and many titles are on the docket.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Macci\u2019s post came just days after he had shared a similar message on the social media site claiming Sinner was capable of becoming a \u2018double digits\u2019 Grand Slam champion.<\/p>\n<p>He posted: \u201cSinner is just fine. He lost to the Joker and Mensik. This is tennis. Nobody goes undefeated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen he wins a next event or a Slam everybody will flip the script that he is back. He never left. Double digits majors baking in the Italian oven with extra parmesan.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After his defeat to Mensik in Doha, Sinner is set to return to action next week in Indian Wells \u2014 the opening Masters 1000 event of the season.<\/p>\n<p>The Italian is set to be seeded second at the event, with world No 1 and two-time former champion Alcaraz set to be the top seed.<\/p>\n<p>Sinner has never lifted the title in Indian Wells, having lost to Alcaraz at the semi-final stage in 2023 and 2024.<\/p>\n<p>He was not able to play the event in 2025, with the 24-year-old serving a three-month suspension when the tournament took place twelve months ago.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as <a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a> for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Read Next<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/atp-indian-wells-entry-list-ranking-points-prize-money-key-dates-2026\">ATP Indian Wells entry list, ranking points, prize money, key dates: Alcaraz, Sinner, Djokovic star<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jannik Sinner critics told to \u2018take a deep breath\u2019 as Serena Williams\u2019 ex-coach backs resurgence Oli Dickson Jefford 25 Feb 2026 3:00 PM Tennis star Jannik Sinner and acclaimed coach Rick Macci. Acclaimed coach Rick Macci has come to the defence of Jannik Sinner after the Italian faced criticism from some quarters for his start [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1792227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1792227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1792227"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1792227\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1792227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1792227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1792227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}