Jannik Sinner had a marvelous season! The Italian took charge in 2024 and conquered eight ATP tournaments, leaving all the rivals far behind. Sinner embraced a 73-6 score, dominating at notable events and lifting six trophies.
The 23-year-old dominated on the hard court, claiming two Majors and three Masters 1000 crowns in his groundbreaking season. Sinner celebrated in Miami, Cincinnati and Shanghai, becoming the tenth player with three Masters 1000 titles in a season.
Thus, he joined Stefan Edberg, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Thomas Muster, Marcelo Rios, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray on the exclusive list. Also, Jannik was the first player to achieve this since Rafael Nadal in 2018.
Players with three Masters 1000 titles in a season© Screenshot
Stefan Edberg lifted three Masters 1000 shields in the first season of this series in 1990. Pete Sampras joined the list in 1994, followed by Andre Agassi and Thomas Muster a year later. Marcelo Rios followed that pace and added his name to the list in 1998.
Andre Agassi repeated this feat in 2002, becoming the first player to enter this list two times. Roger Federer claimed three Masters 1000 crowns in 2004. Roger and Rafael Nadal dominated the Masters 1000 series in 2005, with four titles for each!
Jannik Sinner, Miami 2024© Stream screenshot
The Swiss repeated that in 2006 before the Spaniard stepped in and conquered three titles in four consecutive years between 2007 and 2010. Novak Djokovic joined the list in impressive style, conquering five Masters 1000 tournaments in 2011!
He and Federer shared six Masters 1000 titles in 2012, with Nadal and Djokovic winning eight of nine tournaments in 2013! Novak was the player to beat at this level (and every other) in 2014, 2015 and 2016, collecting 14 Masters 1000 shields for absolute dominance!
Jannik Sinner, Miami 2024© Stream screenshot
Interestingly, the Serb had six consecutive seasons with at least three Masters 1000 titles between 2011 and 2016. Focusing on Majors, Novak never repeated that feat. Andy Murray joined the list during his finest season in 2016. Roger Federer stopped the clock in 2017.
The Swiss veteran secured his fifth and last season with three Masters 1000 crowns, becoming the oldest player to achieve that. A year later, Nadal followed his rival’s feat, notching three Masters 1000 titles 14 years after doing that for the first time!
Rafa shined in 2018, achieving his seventh season with three Masters 1000 shields and leaving Novak Djokovic on six.
Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati 2024© Stream screenshot
Jannik Sinner’s 2024 charge
Six years after Nadal, Jannik Sinner entered an exclusive list following three crowns at the premium ATP level. Jannik claimed three titles at the Masters 1000 level this year alongside three losses and withdrawals. The Italian fell to Carlos Alcaraz in the Indian Wells semi-final.
The Australian Open winner took the opener in style. However, he lost the ground in sets two and three, experiencing his first defeat of the season. Jannik bounced back in style in Miami. He barely survived the stern Tallon Griekspoor challenge in the third round.
Jannik Sinner, Cincinnati 2024© Stream screenshot
Sinner took charge in the remaining duels, dropping 13 games from the quarter-final round and lifting his second Masters 1000 trophy at 22. The Italian faced Grigor Dimitrov in the final and scored a dominant 6-3, 6-1 victory in an hour and 13 minutes.
Thus, Jannik went a step further than a year ago, sealing the deal in style and extending his great run in 2024. Sinner wrapped up the duel with 22 winners and 15 unforced errors. Dimitrov landed 18 winners and 23 unforced mistakes, missing equally from both wings.
Sinner fired 15 service winners and forged the lead in the shortest exchanges up to four strokes. The younger player lost ten points in his games. He defended the only break point and kept the pressure on the other side. Dimitrov gave away 44% of the points in his games.
Jannik Sinner, Shanghai 2024© Stream screenshot
Jannik generated four break points and delivered four breaks to control the scoreboard and lift a trophy. Grigor made a solid start and fired a forehand winner in the fourth game for a break chance. He missed a forehand, and Sinner held for 2-2.
The Italian landed a forehand down the line winner in the fifth game and secured a break that sent him in front. Dimitrov saved break points in the seventh game, holding and remaining in touch. However, Jannik made another push on the return in game nine.
The ATP Race leader painted a backhand down the line winner on a set point, securing the first part of the duel 6-3 in 42 minutes. Jannik served well in the second set and challenged his rival to follow that pace. Grigor blew a 40-15 lead in the fourth game.
Novak Djokovic & Jannik Sinner, Shanghai Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
He missed a backhand and experienced a break, falling 3-1 behind and closer to the exit door. Dimitrov played a loose smash in the sixth game, experiencing another break and propelling Sinner 5-1 in front. Jannik served for the win in game seven.
He held at love with a backhand down the line winner, celebrating his second Masters 1000 crown. Sinner lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Monte Carlo semi-final after a massive battle. He withdrew ahead of the Madrid Masters quarter-final due to hip issues and skipped the home Rome Masters.
Jannik’s third and final loss of the season at this level came in Montreal. The Italian lost to Andrey Rublev in the quarter-final, losing the title and 800 ATP points. However, the young bounced back in Cincinnati. Sinner had to dig deep from the quarter-final stage.
Jannik Sinner, Shanghai Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
He spent five and a half hours on the court against Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev, prevailing and entering the title clash. Jannik faced Frances Tiafoe in the final and scored a 7-6, 6-2 win in an hour and 36 minutes, earning his second Masters 1000 title of the season.
The Italian lost 11 points behind the initial shot and kept his games intact. He saved three break points in the first set and broke Tiafoe two times in set number two to cross the finish line. Sinner landed 29 winners and 24 unforced errors, backed by almost 30 service winners.
Tiafoe served well in the opener and had his chances to clinch it. The American missed two break points in the first game and one more at 4-4. Frances saved a set point in the 12th game and introduced a tie break. Jannik claimed it 7-4, wrapping up the opener after 55 minutes.
Jannik Sinner, Shanghai Masters 2024© Stream screenshot
Sinner gained a boost and broke Tiafoe at the beginning of the second set. The Italian served well for 3-1 and fired a forehand down the line winner in the fifth game for another break and a 4-1 lead. Tiafoe played against three match points on serve in the seventh game.
He saved them and brought the game home for more action. However, Jannik fired a service winner in the eighth game, sealing the deal and lifting his first trophy in Cincinnati.
Sinner’s third Masters 1000 crown of the season came in Shanghai. The Italian prevailed over Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round and clinched ten straight sets en route to another trophy. Jannik ousted Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev and Tomas Machac.
Novak Djokovic & Jannik Sinner, Shanghai 2024© Stream screenshot
He arranged the title clash versus the four-time winner, Novak Djokovic. Sinner defeated the legend 7-6, 6-3 in an hour and 37 minutes, securing his third Masters 1000 shield of the season and the second in a row. Jannik beat Novak for the fourth time in the previous five duels.
The Italian claimed five points more than the Serb. He prevailed in the opener and delivered a single break in the middle of the second set that carried him through. The young gun faced no break points, keeping the pressure on the veteran.
Novak cracked under pressure in the pivotal moments. He sprayed mistakes in the tie break and played one loose service game in the second set that cost him dearly. Jannik collected 22 winners and 17 unforced errors, leaving Novak on a 12-18 ratio.
The Italian claimed a tight opener and stepped in. He took charge in the shortest rallies up to four strokes in the second set and delivered that pivotal break that sent him over the top. Sinner did not play at the final Masters 1000 event of the season in Paris.
Thus, he wrapped up the year with three titles at this level, becoming the first player to achieve that since Rafael Nadal in 2018. Jannik will try to extend his run in 2025 and add more notable shields to his tally.
Tennis World USA