There is no doubt that Jannik Sinner's season resembles that of the Big 3. Only Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic had been able to win the Australian Open, the US Open and the ATP Finals in the same year, a fact that certifies the current status of the Italian champion.
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No one could have imagined a similar rise for the 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria, who has won 70 out of 76 matches played in 2024 and won eight titles. The world number 1 is more than 4000 points ahead of Alexander Zverev in the ATP rankings and almost 5000 over his huge rival Carlos Alcaraz, despite the young Spaniard winning two Major titles this season.
Jannik's consistency shocked everyone and opponents will have to work very hard in the off-season to close this gap next year. The Italian ace will also be the top favorite at the Australian Open, where he won his first Grand Slam title in January.
Even if he doesn't defend his title in Melbourne, Sinner is certain to remain at the top of the ATP rankings even after the first Major of the new season. The 2-time Grand Slam champion is taking tennis to a new dimension, in which only Alcaraz seems to be able to counter him.
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The world No. 1 is preparing for the final event of the season, the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Jannik is certainly very tired at this point of the year, but he has accumulated a lot of confidence thanks to his triumph at the Nitto ATP Finals last week.
Laura Robson on Jannik's season
Sinner scored a lot of points in the ATP ranking in 2024, without forgetting that those obtained at the Indian Wells Masters 1000 were taken away from him.
Speaking with Sky Sports Tennis, former WTA star Laura Robson commented on Sinners impressive season: "I mean, it's almost unheard of. I don't know, well, probably Djokovic a few years ago is the last time we saw a kind of season like this put together, where you just look unbeatable out there, where players feel lost against you, where they feel like they've got to overplay and they get so few chances throughout a match because it's so impressive how he doesn't have the dips."
She continued: "When you think of Alcaraz and how much he can up-and-down throughout a match, and that's part of his charm in a way, the fact that he still loses his concentration. We haven't really seen that from Sinner this year."
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If he is not disqualified by CAS due to the doping case, the Italian ace has an excellent chance of remaining number 1 in the world for most of next year as well. Alcaraz does not have the same consistency as Sinner during the season, while Sascha Zverev struggles to reach certain peaks in Grand Slam tournaments. Novak Djokovic seems to be in decline and too short a schedule to aspire to the top of the ATP ranking, while Daniil Medvedev has just experienced the toughest season of his entire career (in which he has not won a single title).
Sinner's rise
Jannik won nearly $19 million in prize money after failing the doping test during the spring, thanks in part to his victory in the 'Six Kings Slam' in Saudi Arabia last month. Recently, the world number 1 said that he will use that money to inaugurate his own Foundation in the near future.
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After winning the title in Turin, the 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria admitted that he was proud of his season: Honestly, I have surprised myself the whole year at times but in my mind I know how much work I put in and how many sacrifices I have made to be in this position.
I just try to play in the present moment and it was a very special moment for me to win here very important from my side. I know the season Ive had.
I got here one week early trying to understand the speed of the court, trying to work out what works best for me here, so its a very special feeling, special moment.
He added: I played some very, very good tennis throughout this whole week and at times I couldnt have played better.
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Im very happy how I handled every situation on and off the court. Sharing this feel is amazing.
Its amazing. Its been an amazing week my first title in Italy and its something very, very special.
After the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga, Jannik will take a rest and then begin training in Dubai with Marco Panichi in Dubai.
