The 2024 has delivered a very clear verdict: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the two strongest players in the world and they are destined to dominate the ATP tour at least for the next decade. The Italian ace and the Spanish champion each won two Grand Slam titles this year and fought for the top spot in the ATP ranking.
Jannik Sinner & Carlos Alcaraz, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria was more consistent during the season, having suffered only six defeats since January and winning seven titles. This regularity allowed Jannik to build a very wide gap compared to Carlitos in the ATP ranking, thanks also to some ups and downs of the young Spaniard.
The 21-year-old from Murcia became the youngest player ever to win the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships in the same year, won the Indian Wells Masters 1000 and silver medal at the Paris Olympics, but he did not have the same constancy as his great rival.
An amazing show
The four-time Grand Slam champion has proven himself to be an exceptional tennis player, defeating Sinner in all three matches played this year at the official level. The Italian took a small revenge last Saturday beating Alcaraz in the final of the ‘Six Kings Slam’ in Saudi Arabia.
Although the one in Saudi Arabia was only an exhibition, Sinner and Alcaraz gave their best to play a really spectacular match. The world number 1 prevailed in three sets after losing the first set at the tiebreak, proving to have something more than the rival in indoor conditions.
Jannik Sinner© Shanghai Rolex Masters/Instagram – Fair Use
Jannik’s growth over the last twelve months has been impressive to say the least. The Italian won a few days ago yet another race of the season, the Six Kings Slam, exhibition in Arabic land that brought about $6 million in the boxes of the champion of San Candido. This is another satisfaction, especially given the victory in the final against the long-time rival Carlos Alcaraz but the differences between the two and the rest of the circuit at this moment seem literally abysmal. Apart from splitting several tournaments, Jannik and Carlos have won two Slams each and seem to be more than a stretch ahead of all rivals.
American tennis player Taylor Fritz knows something about it, author of a great season this year but tennis player who gave in to Jannik Sinner in the final of the US Open, last tournament of the Grand Slam. Speaking at the Tennis Channel, Taylor had great words of praise for Alcaraz and Sinner, making comparisons with the past: “Nadal, Djokovic and Federer have always scored points hitting the ball in an angled position and deep but the reality is that Alcaraz and Sinner hit the ball in the same way but 10/15 km per hour stronger”, words that show the fear of tennis players towards the world’s first two players”. Fritz appeared incredulous before these two and continued: “They are really crazy. One thing they both do really well is that their defence is incredible, they can destroy the ball even from the most difficult positions and I repeat they are incredible,” said an ecstatic Fritz.
The American tennis player is in the Top Ten and especially on concrete seems to be one of the few able at least to worry the two champions, currently at the top of the ranking. The level of the two best players in the world is clearly higher than that of all other players at this time.
Everyone impressed
Speaking with Sky Sports Tennis, British No.3 Liam Broady also reflected on Sinner and Alcaraz’s impressive level: “It was an absolutely incredible match. They can’t seem to help themselves from creating constant highlight reels across three-set matches. The ball striking is some of the best I’ve ever seen and I hate to say that as I’m a ‘Big 3’ fan, but they hit the ball so big and so consistently big. I’ve never seen anything like it.
Carlos Alcaraz, Six Kings Slam 2024© Stream screenshot
Sinner wobbled for a bit and it looked like he was struggling to find the answers, but he was rock solid in the third set. What gets me is how free they play. They are trying to hit the cover off the ball every shot and hit winners every shot. They are not trying to be careful. They have to hit the ball bigger than their opponent or they will get crushed. I’ve not really seen tennis as free and consistent as that before and they’ve done it for multiple matches for three hours players where they will go toe-to-toe and it’s down to who can get their shots in at the right time.”