Jannik Sinner is one of the most talented players in tennis, and 2024 may be his year to win a Grand Slam for the first time.
Sinner, who was one of the top gainers in ranking points in 2023, has been in the top 10 for nearly a year, has made a significant amount of progress, and has improved his game a lot in the last 12 months.
Some believe that the Italian No. 1 is now in a position to challenge and potentially win a Grand Slam in 2024. Here are five reasons why Sinner could make that a reality next season.
5. His Results In The Second Half Of 2023
Sinner broke new ground in the second part of the ATP calendar in 2023. It started with a first ever Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon, where he lost out to Novak Djokovic in three tight sets. This was followed by Sinner winning a maiden Masters 1000 title in Toronto.
The 22-year-old won two ATP 500 titles, before being the runner-up at the ATP Finals that were held in Turin. He then rounded off his best season to date by winning the Davis Cup with Italy.
Sinner found a new consistency and level during those months. If he builds on that momentum and improves even further, a Grand Slam win is not impossible.
4. Recent Wins Against Djokovic
Djokovic did beat Sinner to win a seventh ATP Finals, and showed his unmatched champion's mentality on the biggest occasions as he did so. However, Sinner has beaten Djokovic in two of their last three meetings. This was in the ATP Finals group stage, and a crucial victory to help Italy win the Davis Cup.
Beating Djokovic at a Grand Slam is the ultimate test, and Sinner will undoubtedly need to play even better to beat the Serbian at the highest level. But those victories against the 24-time Grand Slam champion will give him belief that it is possible.
3. Recent Wins Against Other Grand Slam Rivals
There are a series of players seeking to claim a Grand Slam next season, but Sinner, Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev separated themselves from the others in 2023.
The good news for Sinner is that his recent record against Alcaraz and Medvedev is strong. He has beaten Alcaraz in their last two meetings, and leads their overall head-to-head. Sinner lost his first six matches against Medvedev, but defeated him three times in a row at the end of 2023, including in those two ATP 500 finals.
Overcoming those two in Grand Slams will be very tough, but Sinner should have more belief than previously.
2. Improvements In Sinner's Fitness
It is no secret that fatigue has hindered Sinner at times in some important moments, particularly in the marathon battles of best-of-five-set-matches.
There were some encouraging signs of improvement in that area for Sinner in 2023. All three wins against Medvedev were long and tough contests that Sinner won, and the ATP Finals victory against Djokovic was one of the longest best-of-three set matches of the season.
If Sinner has added some additional physical toughness to this in the off-season, he has a real chance of claiming a maiden Grand Slam.
1. Sinner Has Been Close In The Past
Sinner, who has closed the gap to Alcaraz after his strong form, should be encouraged that he was coming close before the improvements he made in the final months of 2023. He lost a series of very close contests in the fifth set, and seemed to be on the edge of making a breakthrough in Grand Slams.
The progress Sinner has made since these matches could be the final push he needs to win a Grand Slam for the first time.
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