Going into 2024, it was uncertain which players would become the most successful. In 2023, Djokovic dominated, taking home three Grand Slam trophies and making it to the ATP Finals.
At such a young age, Carlos Alcaraz was understandably inconsistent despite winning two Grand Slam titles, the 2022 US Open and the 2023 Wimbledon Championships.
Sinner had a spectacular finish to 2023, most notably winning the Davis Cup with Italy. But going into the 2024 season, he had not yet advanced to a major final or won a Grand Salm. The 23-year-old still had to demonstrate that he was prepared to compete at the highest level.
However, with stellar 2024 seasons, Alcaraz and Sinner have put an end to Djokovic’s supremacy. The Spaniard’s Grand Slam record now stands at four after winning the French Open and his second Wimbledon championship in 2024.
Since Djokovic in 2015, Sinner was the quickest player to secure the top rank at the end of the year. He defeated Taylor Fritz in a lopsided US Open final and won the Australian Open during his breakthrough season.
Sinner and Alcaraz have had a great 2024, but their accomplishments this year at the ages of 23 and 21, respectively, may be discouraging to their more experienced competitors. They have previously been thwarted by Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in particular.
In the Australian Open final against Sinner, Daniil Medvedev grabbed a two-set lead before the Italian came back with a stunning comeback to win his first Grand Slam championship 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
Zverev lost a second Grand Slam final in five sets, this time against the retired Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open final, but he came near to winning the French Open final against Alcaraz, leading 3-6, 6-2, 7-5.
In an interview with L’Equipe, Rosset expressed his admiration for Zverev’s and Medvedev’s attempts to close the gap this year, but he was blunt in his criticism of players who are not among the top five.