Jannik Sinner has been the standout ATP player in 2024, with Carlos Alcaraz being his main rival. This year, Sinner claimed his first Grand Slam victories at both the Australian Open and US Open. He made a remarkable comeback against Daniil Medvedev in Melbourne and then easily defeated Taylor Fritz in New York.
Sinner’s achievements don’t stop there; he also won the ATP Finals in Turin and helped Italy secure consecutive Davis Cup titles. By year’s end, he was ranked world No. 1. However, there’s an interesting pattern—every tournament Sinner won this year didn’t involve facing Alcaraz.
Alcaraz proved to be a tough opponent for Sinner throughout 2024. At Indian Wells, Alcaraz came from behind to win after Sinner tested positive for a banned substance, though it was too minor to affect his play . In their French Open semifinal clash, Alcaraz triumphed in five sets as Sinner struggled physically towards the end.
| Name | Age | Points | Stats 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| it Jannik Sinner | 23 | 15,405 | 33 - 3 |
Rivalry Highlights:
The most thrilling match between them took place during the China Open final, where Alcaraz emerged victorious after more than three hours of intense rallies. Fans might wonder if this rivalry will continue to thrill us next season! A few weeks later, Sinner finally beat Alcaraz at an exhibition event in Saudi Arabia, but it didn’t count officially.
Andy Roddick shared on his podcast that while Sinner dominated hard courts against everyone except Alcaraz, the Spaniard excelled on clay and grass by winning both the French Open and Wimbledon. “He set records,” Roddick said about Turin’s performance and praised how even with challenges hanging over him like clouds above, he shone brightly.
Succeeding on clay or grass remains a challenge for Sinner since he only managed one title outside hard courts this year at Halle Open. With Alcaraz’s prowess on these surfaces continuing strong alongside their head-to-head record favoring him—what do you think lies ahead?
