Pictures: Jannik Sinner succeeds Novak Djokovic as year-end no. 1

11/11/2024 03:49 PM

Jannik Sinner received his year-end no. 1 trophy on Monday night in Turin, succeeding Novak Djokovic and becoming the 19th player with this honor since 1973. To make things even more memorable, Jannik received a beautiful trophy in front of the home fans, sharing his joy with them. The six-time Major winner Boris Becker joined the ceremony alongside the ATP chairman, Andrea Gaudenzi. Sinner made a winning start at the ATP Finals on Sunday and will compete again on Tuesday against Taylor Fritz.

To explain the Italian's rise, we have to go back to the second half of the previous season. Jannik reached the Wimbledon semi-final and claimed the Canada Masters title. He lifted more trophies by the end of the season and led Italy toward the first Davis Cup crown since 1976. Sinner defeated Novak Djokovic two times within ten days and further increased his confidence ahead of 2024. Heading to Melbourne as the 4th seed, Jannik shined at the first Major event of the season, defeating the ten-time champion Novak Djokovic in the semi-final without facing a break point! The 22-year-old staged an impressive comeback against Daniil Medvedev in the title clash, overcoming a two-sets to love deficit and lifting his first Major title.

Not stopping there, Sinner ousted Alex de Minaur in Rotterdam, lifting the second trophy of the season and leaving February with 1500 ATP points on his tally! Jannik counted a 16-0 start to the season before Carlos Alcaraz delivered his first loss in the Indian Wells semi-final. The Italian left it behind and impressed in Miami, dropping 13 games in the last six sets and lifting his second Masters 1000 crown. Sinner wasted his chances against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Monte Carlos Masters semi-final before withdrawing from the Madrid Masters ahead of the quarter-final due to a hip injury. The ATP Race leader skipped the home Rome Masters and recovered for Roland Garros, entering the last four and dethroning Novak Djokovic to become the 29th world no. 1 since 1973.

Jannik could not seek the second consecutive Major title, leading two sets to one against Carlos Alcaraz in a battle for a place in the final in Paris before falling in a five-setter. Still, he conquered his first tournament as world no. 1 in Halle, beating Hubert Hurkacz and celebrating his fourth ATP title of the season. Sinner failed to repeat last year's Wimbledon semi-final, falling to Daniil Medvedev in a tight quarter-final after struggling physically. The Italian skipped the Olympic Games and made a return in Montreal, suffering the quarter-final loss and giving 800 ATP points away. However, he compensated for that in Cincinnati, ousting Rublev, Zverev and Tiafoe en route to his third Masters 1000 crown.

Despite the doping scandal, Sinner headed to the US Open as the top favorite. He welcomed the early losses of Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz and arranged the title clash against Taylor Fritz. Jannik scored a win in straight sets, adding the second Major crown to his tally at 23 and ending the year-end no. 1 calculations after leaving everyone behind. The Italian reached the Beijing final and embraced an epic battle against Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard prevailed after nearly three and a half hours, delivering Sinner's first loss in the ATP finals this year. Jannik fixed that in Shanghai, toppling Novak Djokovic in the final and securing his third Masters 1000 crown of the season. World no. 1 trained at the Paris Masters before withdrawing due to a virus, heading home to Monte Carlo and training for the ATP Finals. 

Jannik is off to a winning start at the ATP Finals, ousting Alex de Minaur 6-3, 6-4 in the first round-robin match. The Italian performed well in front of the home crowd, suffering an early break and controlling the scoreboard after that. The world's best player defeated de Minaur for the eighth time in as many matches, dropping ten points in ten service games and challenging his opponent to follow those numbers. Alex gave away 44% of the points behind the inital shot and suffered three breaks from seven opportunities presented to world no. 1.

Jannik sprayed errors from his backhand but finished on a solid 19-20 ratio. De Minaur hit only seven winners and plagued his chances with 21 mistakes, struggling in the shortest and mid-range exchanges and propelling the home favorite over the top. Sinner suffered an early loss before scoring back-to-back breaks to take the opener 6-3. The Italian served well in the second set and provided a break in game five that carried him over the top. Jannik is chasing his first ATP Finals crown, falling to Novak Djokovic in the final a year ago.