Jannik Sinner’s season is undoubtedly one of the best in modern times, having won more than 60 matches and suffered only six defeats from January to date. Although he had made so much progress already in the second part of 2023, no one could have imagined that the Italian ace would be so dominant this year (he lost only six matches since January).
Sinner© Sinner Facebook/Fair Use
Jannik’s numbers attest to his greatness: seven titles won, including two Majors and three Masters 1000. The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria has a huge advantage over Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev in the ATP ranking, thanks to his consistency throughout the season.
The two-time Grand Slam champion will close 2024 at the top of the ATP ranking and try to get more prestigious results in the last part of the season. The world’s number 1 has just won the ‘Six Kings Slam’ in Saudi Arabia, finally defeating Alcaraz and earning $6 million for winning the event.
Connors on Sinner’s case
Sinner decided not to defend his title in Vienna, preferring to recover his energy for the last three tournaments of 2024. Jannik will be back in action at Paris-Bercy next week, ahead of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Meanwhile, the Italian champion has celebrated his 20 weeks as world number 1 equaling a legend like Mats Wilander. His next goal is to reach his great rival Carlitos Alcaraz at 36.
Despite having celebrated many victories in 2024, the doping case has affected Sinner’s season. The controversy is still open because of WADA’s decision to appeal against the acquittal issued by ITIA. In the latest edition of his podcast, ATP legend Jimmy Connors expressed his point of view on this case: “It’s his escape. Once he is out on that court he has too much to think about. His own game, his opponent. He knows what it is going to take to win.
But what do you do for the other 20 hours over the rest of the day? I am not so close to it that I understand just what a grain of salt of that does. And to be honest, that’s not my style to be a part of that. Listen, all I know is that I don’t think tennis at that level could survive that to hit a top player. They have shown in the past that they are not afraid to hit lower ranked players and discard them from the game. But I don’t know if tennis at that level could take it.”
Jannik Sinner, Shanghai Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
The world number 1 has been very good at isolating himself from external pressures and staying focused on tennis even in times of maximum stress. The two-time Grand Slam champion should know his fate in early 2025, a period in which he will also have to defend his title at the Australian Open.
During a press conference in Saudi Arabia, the Italian ace talked about his special year: “I can step onto the court and forget about everything else, to play the best tennis I can. It’s been a great year and it’s not over yet. Soon, one of the most important tournaments for me as an Italian is coming up, playing in Turin at the Nitto ATP Finals, and then the Davis Cup with Italy.”
A huge mental strength
The Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga will be Jannik’s two main goals this last month of the season. At the Finals, he will be the top favorite, especially because he can count on the support of his fans. Sinner also shone in Turin last year, when he gave up on a great Novak Djokovic in the final. The world number 1 will also try to lead Italy to its second consecutive Davis Cup triumph, having to be especially careful of Spain’s Alcaraz and Nadal.
Novak Djokovic & Jannik Sinner, Shanghai Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
Speaking with Tennis Majors a few days ago, Canadian ace Denis Shapovalov commented on Sinner’s controversy: “Honestly, it has nothing to do with Jannik. To me, it’s just about how they handle every situation differently, depending on what player it is. It’s not right that some players have been suspended for years for contamination, and other players are able to play and they’re just trying to sweep it under the rug. There are a couple of other players who have never tested positive and missed a couple of tests, and are given an 18-month ban.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) should have intervened immediately. They should have issued a warning after the first positive test like WADA. Why are they intervening now? Sinner is now being tormented and has to compete under these circumstances. If the key individuals decided he is clean, then that should be in WADA’s guidelines. WADA should not be able to say months later, ‘No, we want to annul it now,’ if they already had the information. It’s just not clear to the players.”