Jannik Sinner’s remarkable performance in the 2024 season has only intensified his ambition to improve further. At just 23 years old, the world number one possesses a rare mental fortitude, and his consistent excellence throughout the year underscores his status as a top player. The two-time Grand Slam champion has dominated the men’s tour over the past twelve months, with only Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz matching his peak performance between spring and summer. However, Alcaraz’s lack of consistency compared to Sinner is reflected in their ATP rankings.
Sinner’s statistics this season are impressive, boasting 73 victories against just six defeats. He has secured two Major titles, three Masters 1000 titles, the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, and the Davis Cup with Italy. Not even a doping investigation, which caused him considerable stress off the court, has hindered his ascent. Sinner acknowledged significant personal growth in 2024 and expressed his desire to continue improving in the coming year.
Currently, Sinner is training in Dubai. After a brief period of relaxation, he traveled to Abu Dhabi to attend the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, further solidifying his partnership with Formula 1. Following this, he moved to Dubai to train with his coach Simone Vagnozzi, fitness coach Marco Panichi, and physiotherapist Ulises Badio, with Darren Cahill set to join the team in Australia. The Italian star has already begun practicing with a new racket model and plans to stay in Dubai for a couple of weeks before returning to Italy for the Christmas holidays. After spending time with family, he will head to Australia to defend his title at the season’s first Grand Slam.
In a recent interview with Eurosport, former world number one Mats Wilander praised Sinner and Alcaraz as the leaders of the new generation. “Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner put on such a great, entertaining show. It’s up there with the absolute best sporting events ever,” Wilander said. He noted that their matches are filled with suspense and entertainment, with neither player intimidated by the other.
Wilander added that momentum shifts in their matches are brief, lasting only five to ten minutes before one player reclaims control. He emphasized that Sinner and Alcaraz are following in the footsteps of the sport’s Big Three in terms of their level of play. “When Sinner and Alcaraz are at their best, there is no way anyone has ever played better tennis,” he remarked.
As the world number one, Sinner faces the challenge of defending nearly 12,000 points in 2024, though he has opportunities to gain points on red clay and grass. This year, he experienced physical issues that forced him to miss the Rome Masters 1000, but he still reached the semifinals at the French Open and the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, where he was defeated by Daniil Medvedev due in part to an illness. Sinner recently reflected that losing to Medvedev is his biggest regret of the season.
Even if he does not retain his title at the Australian Open, Sinner is expected to remain at the top of the ATP rankings after the first Major of 2025. In the early months of 2025, he will also learn the outcome of his doping case. The trial before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne is scheduled for February 11, 2025, and Sinner faces the possibility of a one- to two-year disqualification. The young Italian is cooperating with authorities and hopes to mitigate any damage to his reputation.
Sinner was previously cleared of wrongdoing by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) just before the 2024 US Open. However, the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) decision to appeal this acquittal has left many surprised, as WADA contends that Sinner was negligent and deserves a significant penalty.
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