ATP 2024 Review: Sinner and Alcaraz steal the show

Sinnsational from start to finish

Immediately after lifting the ATP Finals trophy on home soil in November, Jannik Sinner hailed: “At times, I couldn't have played better, so I am very happy.” That could have pretty much described his entire 2024.

The 23-year-old compiled a year for the record books with a tour-leading eight titles to his name. This included his first two Grand Slams at the Australian Open and US Open, three Masters 1000 triumphs and his home crowning in Turin. Sinner capped it all in green, white and red, as a key figure in Italy's Davis Cup title defence.

It was ultra-dominant (73-6 in matches), 'the fox' seemingly hunting down his opponents from any deficit, any shots from any angles were within his realm of possibilities. Watching Sinner stride across the court in 2024 was a player destined to become world No.1 and that's where he finished – the first Italian man to ever do so.

Alcaraz rolls onto four

Three of Sinner's defeats this season came at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz.

The world No.3 tussled with a few injuries, a few doubts in a fluctuating 12 months, but still served up some jaw to the floor brilliance along the way.

The Spaniard hit a real purple patch in the summer, taking his major tally to three at Roland-Garros (cue an Eiffel Tower tattoo) and then his fourth Grand Slam swiftly followed with a Wimbledon title defence in July.

In Paris, Alcaraz collected the Coupe des Mousquetaires with back-to-back five set blockbusters against Sinner and then Alexander Zverev.

"I have a special feeling about this tournament," said Alcaraz. "I remember when I finished school, running home just to put the TV on.

"I watched a lot of matches - of course Nadal dominating this tournament for, let's say, 14, 15 years. It's something unbelievable and I wanted to put my name on that list of the Spanish players who won."

Heroic triumvirate take a bow

Three majors players left the professional ranks  – you might have heard of them. Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem.

In the case of Nadal it was global news, the Spanish sporting icon called time on his 23-year career. That's 22 Grand Slams, 14 Roland-Garros crowns, his impact on and off the court, the respect, the humility, the warrior ways. The tears were flowing all around the world as Rafa waved goodbye at the Davis Cup in Malaga.

Andy Murray – who for so long duelled in the 'Big Four' era – was also congratulated for a Hall of Fame career with emotions running high during a ceremony on Centre Court at his cherished Wimbledon. A former world No.1, a three-time major winner, Murray climbed to the very peak within the most brutally demanding era of all time.

US Open 2020 champion and two-time Roland-Garros runner-up Thiem was rightly given a raucous reception wherever he went on his farewell tour of tournaments.

All three succumbed to a multitude of injuries and surgeries, their bodies told them it was time. What a ride, what a service to the sport from these elite competitors.

Novak now has it ALL

The history making machine that is Novak Djokovic finally slotted in the final piece to complete his tennis puzzle.

Erasing heartbreak from four previous Olympic Games, the Serbian clinched the gold he craved with a 7-6(3), 7-6(2) victory over Alcaraz on Court Philippe-Chatrier. The raw emotion pouring out afterwards demonstrated what it meant to the fiercely patriotic 37-year-old.

Somehow – Djokovic had knee surgery two months prior – the men's record 24-time Grand Slam winner secured the long-awaited singles career Golden Slam, joining Nadal, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf with the full set.

"Everything I felt in that moment when I won surpassed everything I thought or hoped that it would," said Djokovic in Paris.

"Being on that court with the Serbian flag raising, singing the Serbian anthem, with the gold around my neck, I think nothing can beat that in terms of professional sport.

"It definitely stands out as the biggest sporting achievement I have had."

Young guns come out firing

Established names such as Taylor Fritz (US Open finalist), Alex de Minaur (cracked the Top 10) and Lorenzo Musetti (Wimbledon semi-finalist) all made impressive gains in 2024.

On top of that, plenty of players with a fearless streak of youth shot into prominence.

Competing in his ATP main draw debut in Doha, Jakub Mensik defeated Murray, Andrey Rublev and Gaël Monfils in consecutive matches en route to the silverware showdown.

Australia's Alexei Popyrin launched past five Top 20 talents to lift a maiden Masters 1000 title in Montreal. The world No.24 gained revenge for absorbing Australian Open and Wimbledon losses at the hands of Djokovic with a US Open third round victory over the Serbian.

Jack Draper just got better and better. The left-hander with plenty of swagger claimed a maiden ATP title in Stuttgart, which propelled him to becoming British No.1. Draper kept producing milestone moments, heading all the way to the US Open semi-finals and another trophy lift in Vienna enabled the 22-year-old to finish the year ranked No.15.

Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard more than merits a mention. The 6'8" Frenchman crushed 51 aces as a 'Lucky Loser' in the Wimbledon opening round to topple Sebastian Korda in five sets for a first 'W' in Grand Slam main draws. The 21-year-old used his blazing serve and imposing power play to collect titles in Lyon and Basel.