DESCRIBED – The confirmation of the prodigy Sinner, the revelation of Paolini, the promises of French men’s tennis, the failures of Djokovic and the Blues… A look at the key events of the 2024 tennis year.
THE TOP
The sinner has taken power
The boss is Jannik Sinner. The 22-year-old Italian completed his exceptional year on Sunday with a Davis Cup double, his ninth title of the year! With 8 titles in 15 tournaments on the circuit, including two Grand Slams: the Australian Open, the US Open, as well as the Masters, the transalpine has had an exceptional season. The insatiable relegates his main pursuer Alexander Zverev to almost 4000 points. And if Carlos Alcaraz, third on the podium, was the man of the summer with the fabulous Roland-Garros-Wimbledon double and the silver at the Paris Olympics in August, now he will have to learn to better manage the beginnings and endings. of the season if he wants to sustain the infernal pace of his rival. The only flaw for the new terror of the circuit. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which asked for a suspension of one to two years after a positive test for an anabolic…
Sabalenka does better than Swiatek
Ephemeral number one in the world last season, Aryna Sabalenka has regained power ahead of Iga Swiatek, the boss of 2022 and 2023. The Belarusian, winner of the Australian Open and the US Open this season, now has three Grand titles Slam. Queen of hard, she became the second Belarusian to finish a year as world number 1, after Victoria Azarenka in 2012. The only flaw, in the three matches
She is undoubtedly the revelation of women’s tennis. A late revelation. Jasmine Paolini waited 28 years to play her first Grand Slam final at Roland-Garros. The Italian managed to continue with another (lost) Wimbledon final, even though she had almost never won on grass before and had never gotten past the second round of a Slam before Roland-Garros! Now fourth in the world, it is ever closer to the top. She also won Olympic gold in doubles with Sara Errani and completed her incredible season with a BJK Cup title.
At 27, Taylor Fritz has dusted off the history books of US men’s tennis. Finalist of the US Open, the first time in a Slam since Andy Roddick in 2009, then of the Masters, the first since 2005, he was dominated every time on the last step by the almost untouchable Jannik Sinner. Winner of his seventh and eighth singles titles on the main circuit - Delray Beach and Eastbourne -, the Californian also reached the semi-finals of Madrid and Shanghai in the Masters 1000. Very solid performances that took him to fourth place, at the foot of the podium. .
With 7 titles on the circuit and 13 in the top 100 – something that no other nation has managed to do – French tennis did not figure in 2024 among men, failing to fill the very first roles, since no Habs have did better than the round of 16 in the Slams… The young guard has climbed the rankings. Residents in the top 20, Ugo Humbert 14th and Arthur Fils 20th shone in the ATP 500 (Dubai for Humbert, Hamburg and Tokyo for Fils). Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, winner of another ATP 500 in Basel, stands out as the great blue revelation, he who went from 201st place at the beginning of January to 31st at the beginning of November. And the French year ended (
After Roger Federer in 2022, Rafael Nadal left the scene. That leaves Novak Djokovic, the last survivor of the Big 3. In 2024, the 37-year-old living legend won the only major title missing from his immense record: the gold medal at the Olympic Games. And it seemed to fill his happiness. Grand Slam record holder (24), Novak Djokovic has not won any major ATP title this year, neither in the Slams nor in the Masters 1000. A first time since 2017 for the Serbian, who ends 2024 in 7th place in the world. Far from his 2023 year in which he had collected three new Majors.
Caroline Garcia, 31 years old, who did not go beyond the second round of the Slam and ended her season prematurely in September, still remains the French number 1, in 48th place in the WTA ranking. The next generation doesn’t move forward. Diane Parry (22 years old), Clara Burel (23 years old) and Varvara Gracheva (24 years old) stagnate outside the top 50. Small clearings in a leaden sky. Océane Dodin and Varvara Gracheva reached the round of 16 at the Australian Open and Roland Garros respectively. And as if that wasn’t enough, Les Bleues, winners of the Billie Jean King Cup (then Fed Cup) in 2019, beaten in the play-offs by Colombia, were relegated to the second division. Logical consequence of the downgrading of French women’s tennis.
Accustomed to flirting with the top 3 in recent years, Jabeur, victorious in five tournaments on the WTA circuit and three-time Grand Slam finalist, has been a shadow of herself in major events (2nd round at the Australian Open and 3rd round at Wimbledon in particular). Consequence: a fall to 42nd place in the world…
Winner of the 2022 Rolex Paris Masters by beating Novak Djokovic in the final, Holger Rune announced himself at 19 as a serious rival of Sinner and Alcaraz. Change of scenery, two years later, Alcaraz and Sinner both reached first place in the world, when the Dane, who had fallen to 14th place, had not yet tasted a four Slam final. In 2024 he will have to settle for two round of 16 finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon as his best results. On the circuit he didn’t do better than a final (lost) in Brisbane. It must be said that the fiery Dane is struggling to stabilize, having tested as many as… ten coaches in the last two years.
The Sinner-Alcaraz duo undoubtedly embodies the new great tandem of world tennis at just 22 and 21 years old, with six titles already under their belt. All players born in the 1990s must attend… two (Dominic Thiem US Open 2020 and Daniil Medvedev US Open 2021). The “NextGen” has already been overtaken by its predecessor and, apart from Alexander Zverev, 27, still without a Grand Slam but very regular, its most prominent members have regressed this year. Daniil Medvedev, 28, was dominated twice by Sinner and once by Alcaraz. For the first time in seven years, the Russian ended a season without the slightest title on Thursday. Andrey Rublev, 27, still can’t get past the quarterfinals at majors and has been less consistent on the circuit. Stefanos Tsitsipas, 26 years old, has been expelled from the top 10. Apart from a new coronation in Monte-Carlo, the third in 4 years, his season has been a disappointment.
How is Aryna Sabalenka’s journey in women’s tennis reflective of the challenges athletes face at the top level?
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Tennis Expert
Editor: Welcome to Time.news! Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with renowned tennis expert, Dr. Elena Carter, to dissect the thrilling twists of the 2024 tennis year. Dr. Carter, it’s great to have you here!
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me! Excited to discuss the rollercoaster of the tennis world this year.
Editor: Let’s dive right into it—Jannik Sinner has taken the tennis world by storm, finishing the year with a staggering nine titles including two Grand Slams. What sets him apart from other top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev?
Dr. Carter: Sinner’s consistency has been remarkable. Winning 8 titles in just 15 tournaments is no small feat! His aggressive play style and mental resilience allow him to dominate matches, especially in crucial moments like finals. While Alcaraz had an impressive summer, Sinner maintained his performance and ended the year on a high note with a solid Davis Cup showing. This indicates not just skill but also the ability to handle pressure, a fundamental trait for a champion.
Editor: Speaking of champions, Aryna Sabalenka reclaimed the top of women’s tennis, surpassing Iga Swiatek. How significant is her achievement, especially in light of her prior struggles with the number one ranking?
Dr. Carter: It’s huge! Sabalenka’s journey illustrates the volatile nature of women’s tennis—her comeback to win two major titles this year is a testament to her skill and mental strength. The pressure of being ranked number one can be crushing, as she experienced last season. Now, with three Grand Slam titles under her belt, she is establishing herself as a leading figure in women’s tennis, reminiscent of Victoria Azarenka’s influence a decade ago.
Editor: Jasmine Paolini’s late-blooming success has caught many by surprise. What can we learn from her breakthrough?
Dr. Carter: Paolini’s story is inspirational! At 28, she made her first Grand Slam final, and her journey shows that it’s never too late to achieve greatness. Her adaptability on different surfaces, particularly reaching finals on grass—despite minimal experience—demonstrates how dedication and hard work pay off. This could inspire many young players who may feel pressure to achieve early in their careers.
Editor: Turning to the men’s circuit, Taylor Fritz has made headlines with his performances. What does his resurgence mean for American tennis, which has sought new champions since Andy Roddick?
Dr. Carter: Fritz is breathing new life into American tennis! His ability to reach the finals in both the US Open and the Masters shows he can compete at the highest level. While he fell short against Sinner, reaching that level consistently will raise expectations and build a new generation of players. After years of limited success at the Slams, his achievements offer hope for the US tennis landscape.
Editor: Notably, French tennis has struggled this year in men’s events, with no players reaching beyond the round of 16 in the Slams. What does the future hold for French tennis?
Dr. Carter: It’s definitely a turbulent time for French tennis. While they have some promising young players like Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils breaking into the top 20, they need to find a way to convert that potential into deeper tournament runs. French tennis has a rich history, and there’s always a cycle of talent. The emerging players like Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard show promise, but there’s work to be done in nurturing that talent to compete with global powerhouses.
Editor: what should we make of Novak Djokovic’s year? He secured a long-desired Olympic gold but ended with no major ATP titles. What’s next for him as he steps into 2025?
Dr. Carter: Djokovic’s situation is fascinating! Winning the Olympic gold at 37 showcases his enduring talent and resilience, but failing to secure any major ATP titles is unusual for him. It suggests he may be at a transitional phase in his career—finding balance between peak performance and longevity. Moving into 2025, his focus could shift, possibly steering his attention to selective tournaments. He’s still a formidable competitor, but how he manages expectations will be key.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Carter, for your insights into the past year’s tennis landscape. It’ll be interesting to see how these narratives unfold as we step into 2025!
Dr. Carter: Thank you! I’m looking forward to all the excitement that next season promises.