Jannik Sinner is playing the best season of his young career and still has time to improve his balance sheet further in 2024. The world number 1 has played outstanding tennis for most of the year, suffering only six losses so far, including three against his great rival Carlos Alcaraz.
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The 23-year-old from San Candido won six titles in 2024 and was close to victory in Beijing on Wednesday, but was beaten by Alcaraz in the decisive tiebreak after a truly spectacular battle. The Italian ace digested that defeat very quickly and has already made his debut in the Masters 1000 in Shanghai, where last year he was defeated by young American ace Ben Shelton in the round of 16.
The two-time Grand Slam champion had no problem beating Taro Daniel in the second round and will now face Argentinas Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round. Jannik will try to use the Masters 1000 in Shanghai and Paris-Bercy to get more points than in 2023, when for several reasons he failed to shine in these two tournaments. His main goals in the latter part of the season are certainly the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, where he will try to drag Italy to its second consecutive triumph after last years feat.
Another milestone
Sinners 2024 season is truly amazing. The World No.1 won the Australian Open and the US Open, two Masters 1000 (Miami and Cincinnati) and two ATP 500. Since 2000, Sinner is the sixth player aged 23 or under to achieve 60 or + wins in consecutive seasons (alongside legends like Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic).
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Despite having an excellent season, Janniks 2024 has been made more complicated by the doping case that affected him. The Italian ace has been found innocent by ITIA, but the recent appeal of WADA has complicated the situation. Nicolas Mahut, former world number 1 in doubles, recently spoke about the case of Jannik Sinner. With a parallel to Novak Djokovic to whom - in the judgment of the French tennis player - "such a case would never happen". As we know the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) has acquitted Jannik Sinner who tested positive for low levels of Clostebol on 10 and 18 March - during and after the Indian Wells tournament.
The court accepted Sinners explanation that the substance had entered his body during a massage by his physiotherapist, who had used a spray containing the steroid to cure a cut on his finger. However, WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, has appealed to the Sports Arbitration Tribunal (TAS), seeking to impose a one- to two-year disqualification on the world number 1. The TAS will now have to express itself.
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Speaking to Eurosport and as the tennis website reports, 365 Mahut gave his version of the facts: "Novak Djokovics team would not have allowed such a mistake to happen. If you ask me, I think that Sinner did not try to cheat, there was negligence. But I think what happened to him would never have happened to Novak Djokovic. The product is a counter-top in Italy. So your team is aware of this. Sinner should have been informed that there was such a product in his entourage and if he had used it the physiotherapist would have to wash his hands and put on gloves".
"There was negligence - said Mahut - on the part of the team of Jannik. Internal communication in his team, was very poor. There was a lack of attention and today he finds himself in this situation. It is possible that he is innocent but will be suspended for negligence".
A good debut
This year has been full of events for the 2-time Grand Slam champion, who had to handle some complicated situations even outside the tennis court demonstrating incredible mental strength. Defeating Taro Daniel in Shanghai, the Italian ace became the first player born in the 2000s to achieve 250 wins in the professional tour.
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"I felt quite comfortable today," said the 23-year-old at the end of the match. "I feel in good shape also physically, which is very important for me. Of course I will try to improve for tomorrow's performance, but today I was serving really, really well, especially in important moments, and was moving well."
He also added: Many things have changed in the last year, so I feel I have made great progress. Also, my mindset isn't changing because of success, nor how I behave with people, so that's very positive. I surround myself with good people, I have my family who know me, support me daily, which means a lot to me. I feel in a good place, hopefully, next year if you ask me the same question I can tell you something similar."
