Darren Cahill to coach Roger Federer? If I could make that question mark any bigger, I would. I got all excited when I first read the headline at the popular blog, tennis-x, and then I realized that it was mostly wishful thinking. Here’s the story:
ESPN broadcaster Darren Cahill, the former coach of Lleyton Hewitt, has long been tagged as the next best fit for Federer since the Swiss broke off his part-time coaching arrangement with Tony Roche. Now it has been announced that Cahill has stepped down from his coaching position for Australia’s Davis Cup team, citing “business and personal reasons.”
If his business is to be Roger Federer, then that is good luck for the Swiss.
I found a slightly more promising story about the Federer/Cahill connection in a French language publication called 7 sur 7, which stated that Federer is hoping to finalize Cahill’s contract soon (click here).
But! And this is a BIG BUT! There is nothing I could find to substantiate these stories. All we know for sure is that Cahill is leaving his post as Australia’s Davis Cup coach – which is too bad for team Australia but makes sense given Cahill’s known stateside commitments with ESPN and his ties to Las Vegas.
Here’s the scoop from Adelaide Now:
BUSINESS and personal issues have led Darren Cahill, one of the world’s leading tennis mentors, to step down as Australia’s Davis Cup coach.
Based in Las Vegas where he continues a close association with former charge Andre Agassi, Cahill has been replaced by Wally Masur.
He will stay on in his role as co-director of the Adelaide tournament, World Tennis Challenge.
The January event at Memorial Drive will be led next year by Cahill, Mark Woodforde, Roger Rasheed and Tennis SA chief executive Alistair MacDonald. Cahill, who took Agassi and Lleyton Hewitt to the world No. 1 ranking, hopes to return to the key Davis Cup role in the future.
The South Australian has bowed out as his children are now attending school in the U.S. and his business commitments are growing.
“I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the role,” Cahill said after team captain John Fitzgerald yesterday revealed the team for next month’s tie against Thailand in Bangkok.
I’m sorry Roger Federer fans, but the Cahill-Federer relationship remains a Fedophile fantasy - for now. Darren Cahill does seem like a great match, being a low key Aussie like Roger’s formative coach, Peter Carter, and having helped an aging Andre Agassi secure legendary status. It’s either him or Brad Gilbert, and no one can quite picture that happening. (Although I think it might work in an odd-couple kind of way. Roger likes loudmouthed Americans – just look at how he dotes on Andy Roddick.) And with Roger taking an unexpected break due to back injury before the Indian Wells/Miami swing, the timing seems about right for some quality time with a new guru. I’d love to see Roger take on a coach, if only to help shoulder some of the mental burden that he’s obviously starting to feel in the late-middle part of his career. GOATness is so close, but Rafael Nadal is so hard to beat! (I say: BG! BG!)
Oh, and while we’re on the topic, you MUST read this great article that Darren Cahill wrote about Roger Federer as a young player, his relationship with Peter Carter, his first tempestuous juniors match against Lleyton Hewitt, and a controversial pre-match scuffle that changed Andre Agassi’s respect for Roger. Darren can write as well as coach! Click here to read.
Roger Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images
Tags: Darren Cahill, Federer, Fedophile
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Wow, that’s one of the goofiest pictures of young Roger I’ve seen!
I can’t imagine Brad Gilbert as Roger’s coach either. I think Cahill might be a good fit, but right or wrong, I think Roger feels like he knows how to win on his own. It’s too bad the next Slam is the French — I don’t see that one landing in his column any time soon!
Oh Liz, you’re so reasonable! I’m not, and am dying for some juicy Roger news that we can mull over for months. This Darren Cahill story’s all we got until at least Indian Wells. . .
Hey Freakyfrites, thanks for the link to that article. That was really good!
I don’t know about Cahill as his coach, though: Hearing him talk, it’s obvious “Killer” knows what he’s talking about. I personally, though, don’t think he really did much for Andre as his coach. With Andre, all you had to do was follow Brad Gilbert’s blueprint, I felt. I think Federer could use someone a little more venerable, like I wish Bob Brett were available, but he’s working with Cilic.
Hey Van – Someday, can you do a blog post over at Tennistalk about your Gilbert/Agassi/Cahill theory?
Part of the benefit of Roger choosing Cahill might be the increased access to Reyes, Agassi and that whole vibe. Agassi loves to give advice, and right now, more than anything, Roger needs the biggest pep talk of his life.
The Aussie final laid bare the fact that Roger is quite capable of beating Rafa with his tennis – but he can’t beat him with his heart. I think Agassi could help with that.
Yes, nothing like a coaching rumour to stir up the sleeping/crying/treatment-getting/holes-digging Fedophiles. I don’t know about Cahill. There were rumours years ago that Federer was after him, but then he turned out to be after Roche. As low key as Cahill is, compared to say – your Brad Gilberts, somehow I don’t see him fitting in with Team Federer. I could be wrong though. In any case, I expect the Fed to be fully in denial about needing a coach, dude thinks he knows what he’s doing, and maybe he does.
Hi Dootsiez!
Both your first and last sentences made me laugh out loud.
I’ve been surprised by all of Roger’s coaching choices – niether Roche nor Higueras really floated my boat, not that it’s my boat that matters. I’d like him to make a bold choice – pick someone who he won’t be able to shut up. Which is why I like Brad Gilbert even though he’s crazy. With Brad you see results – just look at what he did to Andy Murray before he dumped him.
But as you said, Roger Federer’s going to do what Roger Federer’s going to do.
How about a Peter Lungrend return!
Haha..that would be hilarious!
Yah im not sure about Darren Cahill either, but it does seem like a good fit, but seeing how much success team Cahill/Gil Reyes had with Verdasco at the Aussie Open, im not sure if Cahill would leave Verdasco at this point. I think he’s sees too much potential in Fernando to leave him when he’s made so much improvement.
So honestly i think he’s ditched Aussie David Cup el capitan post for Fernando.
Hey freakyfritters – I had the same thought re: Fernando. But nobody in the media’s talked about that.