World no. 1 Jannik Sinner will be the top favorite at the upcoming Australian Open. The defending champion will play no official tournaments ahead of the season's first Major, following the 2024 path. However, Jannik will enter the 2025 AO Opening Week.
Sinner will be the first notable name to step at Rod Laver Arena on January 7, facing Alexei Popyrin in an entertaining match. Both players will enter the Australian Open with high hopes. Jannik claimed his first Major crown in Melbourne this January.
On the other hand, the home favorite will enter the home Major as a ranked player following a good run in 2024 and his first Masters 1000 crown. Popyrin challenged Novak Djokovic in the second round of this year's Australian Open before falling in four sets.
Sinner's 2024 run
Jannik embraced a 73-6 season, leaving everyone behind and securing his first year-end no. 1 honor. The Italian kicked off the season as world no. 4, having beaten Novak Djokovic two times in the closing stages of 2023. Sinner was among the favorites at the Australian Open.
The 22-year-old proved that and lifted a notable trophy. Jannik dethroned Novak Djokovic in the semi-final, toppling the legend in four sets after facing no break points. Sinner lost the opening two sets against Daniil Medvedev in the title clash.
The Italian produced a marvelous comeback and celebrated in a five-setter, joining tennis immortals at 22. It gave the young gun a massive boost, and he stood as a player to beat for the rest of the season. Sinner conquered Rotterdam in February for his second title of the season.
He suffered his first loss of 2024 in the Indian Wells semi-final before bouncing back in Miami. Jannik stormed over his opponents from the quarter-final round and conquered his second Masters 1000 crown. The Italian withdrew from the Madrid Masters ahead of the quarter-final.
He struggled with a hip injury and skipped the Rome Masters. Jannik returned to action at Roland Garros and reached the semi-final. Sinner led two sets to one against Carlos Alcaraz before falling in a five-setter.
The Italian earned enough ATP points to pass Novak Djokovic and become the 29th world no. 1 in ATP history. He won his fourth ATP title of the season in Halle and reached the Wimbledon quarter-final. Sinner skipped the Olympic Games in Paris.
He lost in the Canada Masters quarter-final before conquering Cincinnati. Jannik was the favorite at the US Open, especially when Alcaraz and Djokovic experienced early losses. The Italian reached the final and battled against Taylor Fritz.
World no. 1 won in straight sets, earning his second Major title of the season and terminating the year-end no. 1 race. Sinner lost a thrilling Beijing Open final to Alcaraz, suffering the only loss in the 2024 title matches.
Jannik bounced back in Shanghai, toppling Novak Djokovic in the final and lifting his seventh ATP title of the season. The Italian defeated three rivals at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, taking home $6 million! Sinner was the favorite at the ATP Finals in Turin.
He defeated five rivals in straight sets en route to another notable title, wrapping up the season with 1500 ATP points on his tally and leaving everyone behind. Jannik led Italy at the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. He added three singles wins, helping his country to defend the title.
Popyrin's 2024 breakthrough
Alexei will finish the season in the top-25 for the first time. The Aussie won 28 of 50 matches in 2024, claiming his first Masters 1000 crown in Montreal. Popyrin challenged Novak Djokovic for over three hours at the Australian Open before falling in four sets.
He reached the semi-final in Doha and earned four wins in Miami and Monte Carlo before embracing his worst period of the season. The Aussie lost to Andy Murray at Queen's and embraced another duel with Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Popyrin fell in four sets after three hours, taking the opening set before losing the remaining three. He suffered early losses in Hamburg and Umag before Alexander Zverev ended his Olympic Games campaign in Paris.
Alexei saved his best tennis for Montreal. He took down five top-20 rivals en route to his first notable ATP trophy. PopyrindefeatedAndrey Rublev in the final, becoming the first Aussie with a Masters 1000 crown since Lleyton Hewitt in Indian Wells 2003!
Alexei arranged another Major clash with Novak Djokovic;this time he was ready for the greatest challenge! Popyrin ousted the Olympic Games gold medalist at the US Open before falling to Frances Tiafoe. The Aussie did not play at his best in the remaining events.
However, he finished the year in the top-25, wishing for an even better run in 2025.
Sinner vs. Popyrin - Their only duel
Jannik and Alexei met once in the official matches. They battled in the second round of the 2021 Madrid Masters, with the Aussie scoring a 7-6, 6-2 victory in an hour and 35 minutes. Alexei took charge on the fast clay at Caja Magica, landing 31 winners and 23 unforced errors.
The more experienced player took charge in the quickest exchanges, stealing the rival's serve four times and taking charge in set number two. The Italian made a reliable start and led 5-3after 30 minutes. Popyrin pulled the break back at the last moment at 4-5.
The Aussie denied break points in the 11th game and trailed 4-1 in the tie break. Alexei overcame those challenges and claimed the breaker 7-5. The second set started with three breaks, two on Popyrin's side. He stole the rival's serve again in the fifth game for 4-1.
Alexei served for the win at 5-2 and moved over the top. Two rivals will meet again on January 7, 2025, at Rod Laver Arena, and it should be a cracker.
