If there is a player who can represent the image of 2024, it is definitely Jannik Sinner. The Italian ace was the best player of this season and even the extraordinary peaks of Carlos Alcaraz have not questioned his leadership in the ATP ranking. In addition to winning more than 60 matches in 2024, the 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria has won two Grand Slam titles and suffered just six defeats since January. As if that were not enough, the world number 1 has also won three Masters 1000 (Miami, Cincinnati and Shanghai) and two ATP 500.
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Already in the second part of last year, the 2-time Grand Slam champion had shown huge improvements compared to the past both from a technical and mental point of view. Under the guidance of Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill, Jannik has taken a further step in his career to become the best player in the world.
Its true that Sinner lost all three matches to Carlitos Alcaraz in 2024, but he was much more consistent over the course of the season as shown by the gap in the ATP ranking. The Italian will have to make a last effort to close the season well, with his sights on the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Before playing in front of his fans in Turin, the world number 1 will play the last Masters 1000 of the season in Paris-Bercy. Jannik never really shone in this tournament, where he reached the round of 16 in 2023 as his best result.
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An impressive rise
During a long interview with Sky Sport Italy, the Italian ace spoke about his rise and his future goals: As a person, I have never changed, success has never changed me and it has not changed the way I treat people in front of me, those I meet. Whats different is that I have a little less free time.
Because Im a person who spends all my time working. So its up to me, if I want to go home tomorrow, I can do it, but I dont want to because my career started when I left at 15 years old. Now Im 23 and Ive reached the point that I always dreamed of, becoming number one. It is at this moment that I have to continue working and progressing because there are all the players who want my place. Im going to play for another 15 years, hopefully my body will hold up.
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As if the seven official titles won in 2024 were not enough, Sinner also triumphed at the 'Six Kings Slam' last week, defeating big champions such as Medvedev, Djokovic and Alcaraz. The final against the Spanish ace in Saudi Arabia was very spectacular, with Jannik being a great reformer after losing the first set in the tiebreak.
The lost smile
Many fans and insiders have noticed how often Sinner has been sad in recent months. The world number 1 has not been able to deny that the doping case involving him has affected his mood in recent months. "Well, I know this year has been very, very tough for me because of other circumstances, and, you know, at points I lost a little bit of smile because I had some issues off the court, and then they're still in my mind sometimes the US Open champion admitted.
"You know, people, they think that, you know, by winning or having success that you don't have any problems, but it's not true, you know, because I'm, the situation where I'm in, obviously, it's not comfortable, and I wish I would not be in this position where I am right now off the court, and playing freely more on the court, and trying even to enjoy it a little bit more. But, you know, you have to accept it.
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Of course, I have moments where I think about it, which is not the best part. So, yeah, you take the success in a different way. And I think that's what I learned is that the success will never change me as a person, or as a player because next tournament I can go far again, or I could lose the first round, but it's not going to change me as a person, as a human, he added. The doping case is not closed yet, thanks to WADAs decision to appeal against the acquittal of ITIA. The final decision is expected in early 2025, a further stress for the world number 1 who will have to defend his title at the Australian Open next January.
