The 2024 Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour is not over, but we can do an honor roll right now. It was far from the 2016 ATP Tour, when Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic fought for the year-end top ranking until the very end. The finals match of the 2016 ATP Finals decided which one of the two would finish at top. It was held in the O2 Arena.
The home crowd backed up Murray. It was the most memorable moment of Scotland's top player, but a hip injury followed. We will talk about that in another post. The 2024 ATP Tour was supposed to be an exciting season, but it was experiencing a transition. A changing of the guards that tennis fans were waiting - and sad about. They wondered what the 2025 ATP Tour would bring, and the year after next. You'll learn more about it.
The Asian swing would follow the US Open series, and then the indoor-court season in Europe. A lot of points are at stake, which should keep the likes of Taylor Fritz alive; the current points breakdown of the 2024 ATP Finals show Alex de Minaur at 8th place, a few hundred points separating the Australian from Stefanos Tsitsipas, Taylor Friz, and Tommy Paul.
Demon, which is de Minaur's nickname, is recovering from hip injury. It can affect his form. Or he can end up like Carlos Alcaraz. However, the major tennis tournaments determine the honor roll. After all, the tennis legends are remembered for their performances in the Grand Slam tournaments. Nick Kyrgios may disagree, but we're living in a democratic society (or how Boris Becker would tell the controversial Kyrgios on social media). Let's not wait any further.
Drum roll!
Carlos Alcaraz achieved a Continental Slam, winning the French Open and Wimbledon in the same year. It's not an easy feat, as men's tennis becomes more demanding and more punishing than before. If Alcaraz's doubters would dismiss it, then they should recall the Indian Wells Open last spring. Many tennis analysts think that this is the fifth Grand Slam tournament. And Alcaraz defended his men's singles title. Let's not forget the Olympic silver medal. Spain's top-ranked player is the slight favorite to win the 2024 ATP Finals, but anything can happen during the Asians swing and the indoor-court season in Europe. Who’s your bet?
We weren't surprised when Jannik Sinner won his first Masters 1000 title in Toronto last season. It was the Italian's breakthrough, a sign of good things to come. And he didn't wait long. Sinner won his maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne. He captured the Miami Open last spring. And he won the ATP 500 titles in Rotterdam and Halle. We think Sinner, who hails from South Tyrol, is the favorite to win the US Open. Agree?
Special mention to Alexei Popyrin after winning the Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal. He's the first Aussie player to win this kind of event since Lleyton Hewitt winning the Indian Wells Open in 2003. (The Masters 1000 event is next to a Grand Slam tournament.) Some fans will dismiss Popyrin's biggest win because it happened right after the 2024 Paris Olympics. A lot of top players skipped it. However, Alex de Minaur has yet to win a Masters 1000 crown. And the very talented Nick Kyrgios never went this far. It just shows that discipline, and trusting the (long and hard) process would go a long way, but that's another story.
Social media netizens were rude at Matteo Berrettini last year, where some were suggesting that his best days were gone. Berrettini, the 2021 Wimbledon runner-up, won the ATP 250 titles in Marrakech, Gstaad, and Kitzbühel. Berretini, whom his fans call the Hammer, reenters the Top 50. It's too early to tell if Berrettini can be dangerous in red clay, but we hope that he will find his winning touch in the grass courts next season.
Watch out for Alex Michelsen, the new (American) kid on the block. The Californian reached the second round of the US Open last year. He’s about to enter the Top 50 (of the ATP singles ranking). If American tennis is not experiencing a resurgence, then we don’t know what to call it.
Matt Ebden is one of the nicest players in the tour, so he deserves all the success that he achieves this season. The 2024 ATP Tour is arguably his best season, winning the Australian Open (with Rohann Bopanna), the Miami Open (with Bopanna), and the Olympic men's doubles title (with John Peers). We see him playing in his 40s.
Special mention to Mate Pavic after winning the French Open (with Marcelo Arevalo). He achieved a Career Golden Slam (after that win), and it was more remarkable that the Croatian did it with four different partners.
This Spanish and Argentinian pair have reached the Grand Slam finals on five occasions. They won seven Masters 1000 events. In other words, the duo are the bridesmaids in men's doubles. Will they win their first major title next season? Will they ever capture the season-ending ATP Finals? Will they come close to the Bryan Brothers? We will find out later this year, if not next season.
Darren Cahill is arguably the greatest coach of all time, working with Lleyton Hewiit, Andre Agassi, Andy Murray, Ana Ivanovic, and Simona Halep. Grand Slam champions all. Add Jannik Sinner to that list. It's only the beginning.
The men’s tour is more exciting because two, or three, players are dominating the season. The retirement of Roger Federer may have left a void, but fans were able to get over it. And Rafael Nadal’s imminent departure won’t dampen their mood. On the other hand, we have reservations about Novak Djokovic being the beneficiary of the luck of the draw.
Are the organizers pitying him? Or do they want to keep the Greatest Of All Time (G.O.A.T.) Debate going? It’s getting tiresome. Federer has a life after tennis, his brand endorsements would make the younger players admire him more (or green with envy). It remains to be seen if brands would have a change of heart on Djokovic. The Serb’s hardcore fans have every right to be salty.
What do you think?
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