Riccardo Piatti: Jannik Sinner could hire a former Grand Slam champion

• Tennis News
• Tennis Interviews

Coach Riccardo Piatti thinks Jannik Sinner can only benefit from the emergence of Carlos Alcaraz as the Spaniard could push the Italian to work even harder. Sinner, 20, and 18-year-old Alcaraz are one of the most talented players on the Tour.

Both have been tipped to win Grand Slams and reach the No. 1 ranking. Alcaraz beat Sinner at the Alicante Challenger in 2019 and and also won their meeting at last year's Paris Masters. Also, Piatti didn't rule out adding a former Grand Slam to Sinner's coaching staff.

“The emergence of Alcaraz is something positive, it stimulates him and keeps him on the tightrope at the same time, it's good. Alcaraz works with Juan Carlos Ferrero, a great champion. I don't rule out Jannik adding a former Grand Slam champion to his team in the future, which I already did when working with Milos Raonic.

I will always be here, but if you want to improve, you have to be constantly open to new things," Piatti told Corriere della Sera, according to We Love Tennis.

Sinner could add John McEnroe

During the Australian Open, former world No.

1 McEnroe said he would be interested in working with Sinner. “I am definitely available on a part-time basis, helping Jannik Sinner getting over the hump - which I’ll believe he’ll get over whether I coach him or not," McEnroe said in Eurosport's Cube.

"I told Riccardo Piatti I can save him some time if he wants some help to get this young, beautiful Italian player to step up. I'd love to." When asked about a potential collaboration with McEnroe, Sinner sounded interested.

"When John speaks, of course, he is a tennis legend,” Sinner said. “He has won many tournaments, he was a great player. “Yes, I would like to be coached by him. “Let's see what comes out."