Jannik Sinners season is among the best ever. The Italian ace won a lot in 2024, suffering only six defeats, despite some events outside the field have stressed him particularly in recent months. The world number 1 won his seventh title this year at the Masters 1000 in Shanghai, losing only one set during his run in China. This is the fourth Masters 1000 in his young career, the third this season. The champion of the Australian Open and US Open defeated in the final a legend like Novak Djokovic, preventing him from winning the 100 th title of his glorious career.
ADVERTISEMENT
The two-time Grand Slam champion was very good especially in the first set tiebreak, where he put a couple of great points that broke Noles confidence. The 37-year-old from Belgrade fell in the second set and a single break made all the difference in favor of Jannik, who did not even grant a break point to his opponent as he had already done at the Australian Open earlier this year.
The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria will play the 'Six Kings Slam' in Saudi Arabia next week, before the final rush. His last three events in 2024 will be the Masters 1000 in Paris-Bercy, the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Thanks to the exceptional results obtained this season, Sinner has already secured the mathematical certainty of closing the year at the top of the ATP ranking.
All the predecessors of Jannik Sinner
The Italian tennis player with a year in which he won the Australian Open and Us Open at Slam level and marked by a great continuity of results already has the certainty that it will not be surpassed by any other opponent until the end of the year. The Italian player will thus become the nineteenth tennis player in history to close the calendar year at the top of the ATP ranking. Sinner, who succeeds Djokovic, will collect the prize in Turin at the ATP Finals. But who are the other 18 players to have closed a year at the top? Lets analyze the situation.
ADVERTISEMENT
First of all, this statistic starts from 1973, the year in which the official ATP rankingwere introduced. And in that year it was Ilie Nastase who finished the season at number 1 in the ranking. From 1974 to 1978, it was five times in a row that Jimmy Connors finished the year ahead of everyone else.
In 1979 and 1980 it was Bjorn Borg who finished the year at number 1. Then came John McEnroe, number 1 at the end of the year for 4 seasons in a row from 1981 to 1984. From 1985 to 1987, it was Ivan Lendl who closed the top. Then in 1988 Mats Wilander, in 1989 again Lendl, then in 1990 and in 1991 for two years in a row Stefan Edberg. In 1992 Jim Courier before Pete Samprassix years of running from 1993 to 1998.
In 1999 it was the turn of Andre Agassi, in 2000 Gustavo Kuerten before the two years (2001-2002) of Lleyton Hewitt. In 2003 Andy Roddick before four years in a row (2004-2005-2006-2007) of Roger Federer. In 2008 Rafael Nadal, in 2009 again Roger Federer. In 2010 Nadal, in 2011 and 2012 Novak Djokovic, in 2013 Nadal, in 2014 and 2015 Djokovic, in 2016 Andy Murray, in 2017 Nadal, in 2018 Djokovic, in 2019 Nadal, in 2020 and again in 2021 Djokovic, in 2022 Carlos Alcaraz and in 2023 still Djokovic. Before 2024 by Jannik Sinner.
ADVERTISEMENT
Looking at the year-end ranking of world #1 so leads Djokovic (8 times); ahead of Sampras (6 times); Federer, Nadal and Connors (5 times); Lendl and McEnroe (4 times); Borg, Edberg and Hewitt (2 times). Finally Nastase, Wilander, Courier, Agassi, Kuerten, Roddick, Murray, Alcaraz and now Sinner with 1.
A perfect 2024
The Italian ace showed a great performance in the final of the Masters 1000 in Shanghai. It was a very tough match, obviously, playing against Novak is one of the toughest challenges we have, the two-time Grand Slam champion said after the match. Im very happy with how I handled the situation. He was serving great in the first set, I couldnt find a way to break him. I played a really good tie-break which gave me confidence to start off well in the second set.
ADVERTISEMENT
Its tough to tell you a secret about Djokovic because he doesnt have any weaknesses. You have to try and use the small chances that he gives you, but there are not many during the match. He is a legend of our sport, hes very tough to play against, so I am very happy he added. Sinner and Djokovic could face each other again in Saudi Arabia next week if the Italian ace defeats Russian Daniil Medvedev.
