Jannik Sinner has certainly been the best player in the world this season. The young Italian ace has not only refined his game by continuing the progress made in the second half of 2023, but has become an almost unstoppable player on all surfaces. His numbers in 2024 indicate that his year was among the best of the modern era.
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The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria has won eight titles, including two Majors, three Masters 1000 and the ATP Finals in front of his fans in Turin. As if that were not enough, the world number 1 was decisive for Italy's triumph at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga.
Thanks to his excellent results from January until today, Jannik has created a huge gap over all his opponents in the ATP rankings. The 2-time Grand Slam champion has an advantage of around 4000 points over Alexander Zverev and almost 5000 points over Carlos Alcaraz, despite the Spanish champion winning two Grand Slam titles this year.
The Italian ace achieved incredible results on the tennis court despite a hip injury during the spring and above all the doping case, which forced him to face a long trial from April until August. This dispute is not over yet because WADA has appealed against the acquittal, which is why there will be a new trial early next year (presumably in February).
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If he is not disqualified next year, Jannik has a very good chance of continuing to be world number 1 for a long time to come.
Sinner is the top favorite everywhere
Right now, the 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria is the top favorite in any tournament on the men's tour. Alcaraz's peaks are as impressive as he showed between spring and summer, but the Spaniard does not have a game that allows him to have the same consistency as the Italian.
In a recent interview with Il Corriere dello Sport, Davis Cup Finals director Feliciano Lopez commented on Sinners amazing season: This year he has had a season beyond all logic, winning an unreal number of matches and, above all, losing only six over the course of the season.
There is no doubt, he deserves to be number 1 in the world. If theres one thing more impressive than the intensity of his tennis, its his ability to keep the bar high. Everyone else has their ups and downs, but he doesnt.
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If I think about it, two years ago he was a different player and today he still wants to improve, so I imagine how he could play if he continued like this.
Lopez was asked how many Grand Slam titles Jannik will win in his career: Its hard to say. Im often asked about Alcaraz. Hell definitely be in double figures, lets say 14.
A little break
After helping Italy in Malaga, the Italian ace is back in Monte Carlo and is relaxing before some commitments with his sponsors. The world No. 1 will resume training early next month and will fly to Dubai between December 7th and 8th. Unlike previous years, the 2-time Grand Slam champion will not do his preparation in Alicante but has chosen the United Arab Emirates.
The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria is not expected to play any official tournament before the 2025 Australian Open, in which he will try to win the third Major title of his young career (after Australian Open and US Open). After the first Grand Slam of the new season, the world number 1 should know his fate. The final verdict on his doping case is expected before the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami. There is no doubt that that verdict could upset all the balances on the men's tour.
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Fans hope to continue to see the splendid rivalry between him and Carlitos Alcaraz. On the latest edition of the Changeover Podcast, young ATP ace Nishesh Basavereddy who practiced with Jannik and Carlos explained the differences between these two young champions: I think their two balls are a little different. Sinners was more flat and just straight through the court.
Alcarazs was really heavy. Obviously on an indoor hard court its a little different. That was lower bouncing. But I just think both their balls go through the court in different ways.
In Alcarazs there was more of a difference between forehand and backhand.
Sinners both sides were really, really hard. Alcarazs backhand was a little bit slower, for sure, his forehand was much harder.
The young Spaniard has won all three clashes against the Italian in 2024, proving that he has the right weapons to put the current world number 1 in trouble.
