World no. 1 Jannik Sinner added two strong names to his coaching staff. The Italian will work with the fitness trainer Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio, who both worked with the 24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic in the past. Panichi stayed with the Serb for five years, as the two worked together between 2019 and this spring, achieving many notable milestones. Badio was in Djokovic’s team between May 2017 and the end of 2022, helping Novak with his elbow injury and doing a marvelous job at the 2022 Australian Open. Now, Marco and Ulises will embrace a new challenge with a two-time Major winner, Sinner, taking care of the Italian’s body ahead of the final challenges of 2024. Jannik raised his level to a higher level in the second part of 2023, starting with the Wimbledon semi-final, losing only four matches by the end of the year and becoming the world no. 1 contender. The San Candido native proved that in 2024, winning 55 of 60 encounters and lifting two Major titles!
Novak Djokovic, 2024 Davis Cup© Stream screenshot
Sinner dethroned Novak Djokovic after Roland Garros, becoming the 29th world no. 1 since 1973 and notching 15 consecutive weeks on the ATP throne. The Italian is 4000 ATP points clear of his closest rival ahead of the final stage of the season, looking good to grab his first year-end no. 1 honor. Jannik is the leader of the pack with six ATP titles in 2024, and it all started in Melbourne. The young gun used the momentum from the end of 2023 and conquered his first Major title at the Australian Open at 22. World no. 4 reached the semi-final without losing a set and faced the ten-time winner Djokovic in the clash for a place in the final. The younger player ousted the veteran in four sets, never facing a break point and outplaying the defending champion in every segment. Sinner experienced an ultimate challenge in the final, losing the opening two sets against Daniil Medvedev before performing a 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 comeback, celebrating his first Major title.
Jannik Sinner, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Jannik Sinner joined forces with Ulises Badio and Marco Panichi.
Carried by this boost, he conquered another trophy in Rotterdam, kicking off the season with a 12-0 mark and 1500 ATP points on his tally after seven weeks of the new season! The Italian notched 16 straight wins in 2024 before Carlos Alcaraz stopped him in the Indian Wells semi-final. An in-form player fixed that in Miami, winning the title in style and extending his lead in the ATP Race. Jannik lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Monte Carlo semi-final and withdrew from the Madrid Masters ahead of the quarter-final due to hip issues. They forced him to skip the Rome Masters, but everything seemed fine in Paris, with Sinner reaching the semi-final. He squandered two sets to one advantage against Carlos Alcaraz, ending his streak at Majors but passing Novak Djokovic and becoming world no. 1. Sinner was a player to beat in Halle, adding another ATP 500 crown to his collection and creating a buffer to Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic. The Italian reached the Wimbledon quarter-final and faced Daniil Medvedev.
Jannik Sinner, Miami 2024© Stream screenshot
He struggled physically and suffered a 6-7, 6-4, 7-6, 2-6, 6-3 defeat despite giving everything. World no. 1 squandered a set point in the third set and made a strong comeback in the fourth before falling in the decider. Jannik withdrew from the Olympic Games due to tonsillitis, recovering and returning to action in Montreal. The world’s best player did not perform at his best in the quarter-final against Andrey Rublev, falling 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 and dropping 800 ATP points. Sinner improved his level in Cincinnati, ousting Rublev, Alexander Zverev and Frances Tiafoe en route to his second Masters 1000 trophy in 2024. Just a day later, the ITAI revealed Sinner’s two failed doping tests in March, with low levels of clostebol entering his body from a team member who used a spray to treat a wound on his hand. Jannik appealed after both positive tests and extended the season without suspensions.
Jannik Sinner, US Open 2024© Stream screenshot
Some things were unclear, but the Italian left everything behind ahead of the US Open. Sinner welcomed early exits from Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz and conquered his second Major crown, losing two sets in seven encounters and completing this year’s hard-court Slam. World no. 1 took tight sets against Tommy Paul and Jack Draper, keeping his composure and reaching the title clash. Jannik battled against Taylor Fritz and scored a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 win in two hours and 16 minutes, becoming a two-time Major winner at 23. The Italian made the difference with his first serve, keeping his initial shot safe and stealing the rival’s serve six times. The American had a chance to extend the battle in front of the home fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium, leading 5-3 in the third set before dropping four straight games, propelling world no. 1 over the top. Sinner skipped the Davis Cup action, and his next tournament will be the ATP 500 event in Beijing.