Jannik Sinner put a seal on a terrific tennis season with a dominant 6-4, 6-3 victory over American Taylor Fritz within the last of the year-end Nitto ATP Finals 2024. Sinner additionally achieved his first year-end primary title, being commemorated in Turin in his house nation.
Italy’s Jannik Sinner poses with the trophy after successful the ultimate towards USA’s Taylor Fritz on the ATP Finals tennis event in Turin on November 17, 2024(AFP)
Sinner ended the yr with an exceptional 72-6 file, good for a 92.1% win-loss proportion, marking him as the primary participant outdoors of the large three of Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic to complete a calendar yr with a 90+% ratio within the twenty first century.
He additionally grew to become the primary participant since Ivan Lendl in 1986 to win the ATP Finals occasion with out dropping a set — a number of matches towards one of the best gamers on the planet, exhibiting an unexpected quantity of dominance. Sinner additionally remarkably gained a set in each single match performed in a calendar yr: at simply 22-years-old, his capacity and type bodes effectively for an unbelievable profession on the highest stage.
Sinner’s yr was barely marred by the doping controversy he confronted forward of the US Open, after it was revealed he examined optimistic for an anabolic steroid clostebol following the early season arduous court docket swing. However, Sinner’s season stays one of many best efforts by a person participant within the historical past of the ATP, with two grand slam wins and a slew of main titles past. Right here is how the Italian stacks up towards a number of the different finest years gamers have to supply.
Jannik Sinner 2024: Australian Open, US Open, ATP Finals, 3x Masters 1000
Sinner began the yr robust along with his maiden grand slam event win in Australia, beating Djokovic within the semifinals and changing into the one participant to not face a single break level towards the Serb in a grand slam match. He bounced again from a 2-0 deficit to beat Daniil Medvedev within the last.
He went on to win the Miami Masters quickly after, and though dogged by accidents in the summertime which noticed him withdraw from Madrid and Rome in addition to the Paris Olympics, he completed the yr on a powerful be aware with victories in Montreal, the US Open, Shanghai, and the ATP Finals. He additionally lifted the ‘Six Kings Slam’ and its USD 6 million prize cash to achieve a pleasant bonus.
Roger Federer 2006: Australian Open, Wimbledon, US Open, ATP Finals, 4x Masters 1000
Essentially the most dominant yr of the Swiss maestro’s mid-2000s dominance, Federer gained a preposterous 92 matches in 2006, dropping solely 5 matches out of which 4 had been to Rafael Nadal. For the second time in his profession, Federer picked up three of the 4 slams, dropping to Nadal on the French Open finals for a slam file of 27-1.
One of the commandingly dominant peaks of any participant, and 2006 was the jewel in Federer’s crown as he established himself as one of many biggest of all time.
Novak Djokovic 2015: Australian Open, Wimbledon, US Open, ATP Finals, 6x Masters 1000
Djokovic went 82-6 in 2015, staying on high of the rankings for all 52 weeks and matching Federer on the Grand Slam entrance by reaching all 4 slam finals. A disappointing loss to Stan Wawrinka at Roland Garros is the one blemish on the season, however an elite strike-rate in massive tournaments noticed Djokovic attain eight out of 9 Masters 1000 finals, successful a record-breaking six within the yr.
Djokovic was typically thought of third fiddle to Nadal and Federer, however was elevated to the highest desk by a incredible season the place he held a 9-3 file towards his biggest rivals, together with beating the Swiss on the finals of Wimbledon and the US Open.
Rafael Nadal 2008: French Open, Wimbledon, 3x Masters 1000, Olympic Gold
Nadal’s seasons in 2008 and 2010 are hotly contested when it comes to his finest: though he gained three slams and accomplished the profession grand slam in 2010, the season chosen right here is the one the place he went from upstart to legend.
Nadal accomplished the ‘channel double’ by successful his fourth consecutive Roland Garros, completely dominating Federer within the last as he dropped solely 4 video games. His largest win can be on the Wimbledon last a month later, in a match that’s broadly thought of the best tennis match of all time as he overcame Federer 9-7 within the fifth set on the finish of a titanic conflict.
The coup de grace for Nadal’s yr can be on the Beijing Olympics, the place he secured Olympic Gold in singles — a feat by no means matched by Federer, and one Djokovic needed to wait till 2024 to attain.
Honourable mentions: Andy Murray 2016, John McEnroe 1984, Guillermo Vilas 1977, Rod Laver 1969
McEnroe possesses one of the best win-percentage of any participant within the open period, an unbelievable 96.55% as he misplaced solely three matches all yr. Nonetheless, he solely performed 87 video games, which pales compared to Guillermo Vilas in 1977. The Argentine gained an ATP file 130 matches, and set what stays the longest win-streak with 46 consecutive wins, changing into the primary South American participant to win a grand slam title.
Andy Murray’s 2016 is what gave him the credentials of an all-time nice. He lifted his second Wimbledon title in addition to successful his second Olympic gold medal, earlier than happening a 25-match and five-title win streak on the finish of the yr to seal year-end world primary, needing each single win for his monumental snapping of Djokovic’s lengthy streak on the high.
However, there’s nothing fairly like the one time within the open period that the Grand Slam has been achieved by a person, as ‘Rocket Rod’ Laver gained all 4 slam titles in 1969, a file that appears more and more unbeatable the longer it stays in place.