The 2024 season ended with two extra wins for Jannik Sinner. The world No. 1 – who was one of the best participant of the yr by a large margin over all of the others – additionally gained the Nitto ATP Finals after which dragged Italy to their second consecutive success on the Davis Cup Finals.
The Italian ace has been virtually unstoppable within the final twelve months, by which he has gained eight titles and suffered solely six losses (with a win share of over 90%). The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria grew to become the primary participant since Roger Federer in 2005 to win not less than one set in all matches performed this season.
Alcaraz and Sinner© Stream screenshot
Three of the defeats suffered by Jannik in 2024 had been inflicted on him by his nice rival Carlos Alcaraz, who has proven once more this yr that he can attain really spectacular peaks. The 21-year-old from Murcia grew to become the youngest ever to win Roland Garros and Wimbledon in the identical season, however he didn’t have the identical consistency as Sinner.
The younger Spaniard has had a number of ups and downs throughout 2024, which is why he has been overtaken by Sascha Zverev in second place within the ATP rankings. The German champion didn’t have the identical peaks as Sinner and Alcaraz and did not win a Grand Slam title, however he gained two Masters 1000 titles and made it to not less than the spherical of 16 in all 1000 performed this yr.
There isn’t any doubt that Sinner, Zverev and Alcaraz had been the three greatest gamers in 2024. All the opposite gamers struggled for various causes. Daniil Medvedev has skilled the worst season since changing into a high participant, failing to win a single title from January till at present.
Novak DJokovic confirmed the primary indicators of decline, however saved his season with a powerful triumph on the Paris Olympics. Andrey Rublev had many private issues, whereas Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime dissatisfied and misplaced a number of positions within the ATP rating. In 2024 there was the rise of Taylor Fritz, who reached the ultimate on the US Open and ATP Finals changing into the brand new world quantity 4.
Andrea Petkovic on the 2024 season
On the most recent version of ‘The Rennae Stubbs Tennis podcast’, former WTA Prime 10 Andrea Petkovic commented on the 2024 season: “I was looking at the top 5 today, and what really stood out to me, so Taylor is No. 4, Daniil Medvedev is No. 5, and they are at 5,000 points, roughly. One is 5,100 and the other is 5,030 or something. Right? And then, Carlos and Zverev, are around 7,000 points and Jannik has almost 12,000. So this is what I’m saying. I do think Carlos, Sascha and Jannik Sinner have set themselves apart from the pack.”
She also added: “The factors are telling the story as a result of 2,000 factors between Carlos and Taylor and Daniil, 2,000 factors is profitable a Slam event and Carlos and Sascha lose first spherical, which will not occur. That is an enormous distinction.”
An enormous shock
Fritz has been one of many greatest surprises this season. The American ace has proven that he has the correct weapons to win large titles within the coming years and has made important enhancements in his sport. Taylor’s backhand has improved quite a bit in comparison with final yr, in addition to his psychological energy in crucial matches.
Jannik Sinner & Taylor Fritz, ATP Finals 2024© Stream screenshot
It’s no coincidence that the American ace has defeated Alexander Zverev within the final 4 clashes, twice in Grand Slam tournaments (at Wimbledon and the US Open). If he hadn’t confronted Sinner, it is vitally probably that Fritz would have gained not less than one title between the US Open and the ATP Finals. The subsequent objective of the world quantity 4 is to enhance his sport on crimson clay and grass as effectively to get nearer to the highest three gamers on the planet.
“A little bit surprised yeah, I feel like normally the stretch where I pick up a lot of points is that Indian Wells and Miami stretch, but I wasn’t playing my best tennis at that point,” Fritz mentioned about his wonderful yr.
“I feel like the clay court season is where I started to pick up some momentum and I was feeling really good about my game.
So I don’t think it matters about the surface but just where I’m at with my game and how I’m feeling mentally and how I’m feeling extra locked in and motivated and for me it just came at that part of the season” – he concluded.
The 2025 Australian Open will inform us whether or not these hierarchies will likely be confirmed or not, however within the meantime the gamers can have a number of weeks off.
