2024 Yr in Sports activities, Tennis: Sinner’s extraordinary season, Djokovic completes Golden Slam, Nadal and different stars bid farewell

From the coronation of latest Grand Slam champions to a residing legend attaining sporting immortality, the 2024 tennis season had all of it.

It was a 12 months by which numerous thrilling and gifted children burst on to the scene whereas some all-time greats bid farewell to the game and their followers.

And identical to some other season, this one too had its justifiable share of controversies.

Right here’s a recap of the largest highlights from tennis in 2024:

JANUARY

Germany wins United Cup

Germany beat Poland 2-1 in a nail-biting Poland Cup ultimate in Sydney. After Iga Swiatek swept previous Angelique Kerber 6-3, 6-0, Alexander Zverev introduced his facet again from the brink of defeat as he saved two match factors in a gruelling 6-7(3), 7-6(6), 6-4 win over Hubert Hurkacz. Zverev returned to associate Laura Siegemund and sealed the title with a 6-4, 5-7, [10-4] win over Swiatek and Hurkacz within the deciding blended doubles.

Nadal, Osaka and Cilic make much-awaited comebacks

Main winners Rafael Nadal, Naomi Osaka and Marin Cilic returned to skilled tennis after a very long time.

5 months after giving beginning to daughter Shai, four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka made her comeback with a 6-3, 7-6(9) win over Tamara Korpatsch at Brisbane Worldwide.

Nadal, a 22-time Main winner, had not performed since sustaining a hip damage throughout his second-round loss on the Australian Open in 2023. A day after partnering compatriot Marc Lopez in a doubles tie, the Spaniard registered a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Dominic Thiem on his singles comeback in Brisbane.

Nonetheless, former US Open champion Cilic squandered 9 match factors on his return after an injury-ravaged 12 months and misplaced a thriller to Jan-Lennard Struff 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-6(7) on the Hong Kong Open.

Sinner and Sabalenka win singles titles at Australian Open

Aryna Sabalenka defender her title in Melbourne with ease. The Belarusian didn’t drop a set all through the match. She defeated China’s Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 6-2 within the ultimate to turn into the primary girl to retain the Melbourne Park crown since compatriot Victoria Azarenka in 2013.

REVIEW | AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2024

Jannik Sinner clinched his maiden Main title with a come-from-behind 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Russia’s Daniil Medvedev within the summit conflict, changing into the primary Italian man within the Open Period to win a Grand Slam. Earlier, within the semifinal, Sinner had taken down 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3.

Bopanna turns into oldest males’s Grand Slam champion

India’s Rohan Bopanna proved that age is only a quantity because the then 43-year-old and his Australian associate Matthew Ebden defeated Italy’s Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-6(0), 7-5 within the males’s doubles ultimate in Melbourne.

Bopanna turned the oldest man to elevate a Grand Slam trophy within the Open Period. The triumph additionally helped the Indian climb to the highest of the ATP males’s doubles rankings.

FEBRUARY

India travels to Pakistan for Davis Cup tie

Indian Davis Cup crew capped its historic go to to Pakistan after 60 years by sealing its place in World Group I because it blanked the host 4-0 on grass in Islamabad. It was India’s eighth win in as many conferences within the occasion.

Sumit Nagal makes his High 100 debut

Ranked 121 at first of the Chennai Open ATP Challenger, India’s Sumit Nagal went all the best way to ensure himself High 100 debut within the ATP Rankings. Nagal turned the primary Indian since Prajnesh Gunneswaran in 2019 to interrupt the High 100 barrier as he defeated Italy’s Luca Nardi 6-1, 6-4 within the ultimate for his fifth title on the ATP Challenger Tour.

Paolini’s triumph at Dubai Championships

The primary main milestone of Jasmine Paolini’s breakout season was the Italian’s triumph at Dubai Championships. Ranked twenty sixth, Paolini defeated Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 within the ultimate to clinch her maiden title on the WTA 1000 stage.

MARCH

Rublev defaulted from Dubai semifinals after allegedly utilizing obscene language

Russia’s Andrey Rublev was defaulted from the Dubai Championships for allegedly utilizing obscene language in an indignant tirade at a line umpire. Taking up Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, Rublev misplaced his cool at 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 5-6 and yelled in direction of the official, who claimed the second seed swore at him in Russian.

Later, after an attraction to ATP, Rublev managed to retain the rating factors and prize cash earned, regardless of getting defaulted from the match for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Halep’s doping ban will get lowered

Former Wimbledon and French Open champion Simona Halep managed to get her four-year doping ban lowered to 9 months after a profitable attraction within the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport. It made her eligible to return to competitors instantly.

The Romanian was suspended in October 2022 after testing constructive for roxadustat – a banned drug that stimulates the manufacturing of purple blood cells. She was additionally charged with one other doping offence in 2023 attributable to irregularities in her athlete organic passport (ABP). Halep had blamed contaminated dietary supplements for her constructive take a look at.

Nadal out, Nagal in

Nadal withdrew from Indian Wells Masters on the eve of his first-round match which allowed Nagal, a fortunate loser, to take his spot. Nonetheless, the Indian went down in straight units to Canada’s Milos Raonic.

Nardi shocks Djokovic at Indian Wells

5-time champion and the then World No. 1 Djokovic crashed out of Indian Wells Masters after a stunning loss to Nardi, a fortunate loser, within the third spherical. Nardi defeated Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes for the largest win of his profession.

Bee invasion at Indian Wells

In a weird flip of occasions, the quarterfinal between Zverev and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells needed to be suspended at 1-1 within the opening set attributable to a swarm of bees.

Dozens of bees hooked up themselves to the overhead spider digicam that traverses the court docket. A person with none protecting masking used a vacuum to wash them off. After an almost two-hour delay, the match resumed and Alcaraz received 6-3, 6-1. The Spaniard went on to defeat Sinner, ending the Italian’s profitable begin to the season, within the semifinals earlier than taking down Medvedev 7-6(5), 6-1 within the summit conflict to defend his title.

Finish of Djokovic-Ivanisevic partnership

Simply earlier than the beginning of the clay season, Djokovic introduced that his extremely profitable partnership with Croatian coach Goran Ivanisevic had ended. Ivanisevic had joined Djokovic’s crew in 2019 and helped the Serbian win 9 Grand Slam titles.

APRIL

Saudi Arabia will get internet hosting proper for WTA Finals until 2026

WTA introduced that Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh will host the season-ending WTA Finals until 2026. Saudi Arabia has invested closely in sports activities like soccer, Method One and golf in the previous couple of years, whereas critics accuse the dominion of utilizing its Public Funding Fund to “sportswash” its human rights report. The nation denies accusations of human rights abuses and says it protects its nationwide safety via its legal guidelines.

Djokovic breaks Roger Federer’s report, turn into oldest #1 in ATP Rankings

On April 7, because the age of 36 years and 321 days, Djokovic formally turned the oldest World No. 1 in ATP Rankings historical past. The report was beforehand held by one among his best rivals in Roger Federer.

Nadal’s ultimate clay season begins

After withdrawing from Monte Carlo, Nadal, one of many best clay court docket gamers of all time, started his ultimate season on the filth in Barcelona. The 12-time champion defeated Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-2, 6-3 on a court docket named after the Spaniard himself. Nadal crashed out in second spherical after loss to Alex De Minaur of Australia.

Garbine Muguruza retires

Spain’s former world #1 and Wimbledon and French Open champion Garbine Muguruza introduced her retirement at a information convention, making the prolonged break she had introduced in 2023 a everlasting step. “I didn’t miss the self-discipline and the issue of the life I had earlier than. I’ve been realizing that what I most wish to stay up for is my subsequent chapter and never the tennis chapter,” she mentioned at a information convention in Madrid.

MAY

Nadal says goodbye to Madrid

Nadal fell 7-5, 6-4 to Czech Jiri Lehecka within the fourth spherical of the Madrid Open, marking his ultimate look at a match he had received 5 occasions.

Swiatek outlasts Sabalenka in epic ultimate at Madrid Open

In a repeat of final 12 months’s summit conflict, Swiatek took on Sabalenka within the Madrid Open ultimate. Nonetheless, the Pole managed to be on the proper facet of the end result this time as she edged the Belarusian 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(7) in a gripping and gruelling match. Swiatek saving three championship factors to safe her twentieth profession title.

Djokovic by chance hit by a bottle

Djokovic by chance bought knocked on the top by a water bottle after his 6-3, 6-1 win over French qualifier Corentin Moutet within the first spherical of the Italian Open in Rome. A person was leaning over the railing at hand Djokovic a pocket book for a signature and an aluminum-type water bottle fell out of his backpack and hit the Serbian on the highest of his head.

Nadal’s ultimate French Open

Fourteen-time Roland Garros champion Nadal misplaced 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-3 to fourth-seeded Zverev within the first spherical. It was his earliest exit on the clay Main. The Spaniard’s French Open win-loss report is 112-4.

Swiatek pulls off Houdini Act in Paris

Defending champion Swiatek saved a match level to outlast Osaka 7-6(1), 1-6, 7-5 in a panoramic second-round conflict on the French Open. Swiatek trailed 5-2 within the ultimate set however the Pole received the final 5 video games of the match.

JUNE

Djokovic breaks Federer’s report for many Grand Slam match wins

Djokovic broke Federer’s all-time report of most variety of wins at Slams in the course of the French Open. The Serbian defeated Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 to register his 370th victory at Majors. Djokovic additionally surpassed Federer’s report of 58 quarterfinal appearances.

Nonetheless, Djokovic had sustained a knee damage throughout his win over Cerundolo which pressured him to withdraw from the match.

Zverev settles home violence case introduced by former girlfriend

Zverev agreed to a settlement after the mom of his baby accused him of bodily abuse and a German court docket closed the case. The settlement, in keeping with German media, included a financial situation of 200,000 euros (USD 217,820), with the participant not discovered responsible of any wrongdoing.

The choice got here hours earlier than Zverev beat Casper Ruud within the French Open semifinals.

Alcaraz and Swiatek win singles titles at French Open

Swiatek overcame an early wobble to beat first-time Main finalist Paolini 6-2, 6-1 at Roland Garros. The Pole turned solely the third girl within the Open period to clinch three straight French Open titles. Regardless of the defeat, Paolini assured herself High 10 debut within the WTA Rankings.

REVIEW | FRENCH OPEN 2024

Alcaraz outlasted Zverev to turn into the youngest man to seize Grand Slam titles on all three surfaces with a 6-3, 2-6, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 victory in an exciting males’s ultimate.

Sinner turns into World No. 1

Sinner formally turned the primary Italian man to turn into World No. 1 when the ATP Rankings have been launched after the French Open.

Sinner had misplaced to eventual champion Alcaraz within the French Open semifinals however the end result was adequate to overhaul Djokovic.

JULY

Wimbledon says goodbye to Andy Murray

Two-time Wimbledon singles champion Andy Murray and his brother Jamie misplaced 7-6(6), 6-4 to Australia’s Rinky Hijikata and John Friends within the males’s doubles opening spherical. It turned out to be Murray’s ultimate match on the grass Main.

He was pressured to withdraw from the singles competitors as he was nonetheless recovering from a surgical procedure completed to take away a cyst from his spinal twine.

Later, Emma Raducanu, his blended doubles associate, pulled out attributable to stiffness in her wrist.

“I wish to play ceaselessly, I really like the game and it’s given me a lot. It’s taught me a great deal of classes through the years I can use for the remainder of my life. I don’t wish to cease so it’s onerous,” mentioned Murray in his speech after the boys’s doubles loss.

Alcaraz and Krejcikova win singles titles at Wimbledon

Within the ladies’s ultimate, Barbora Krejcikova defeated Paolini 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 on the similar Centre Courtroom the place her late mentor Jana Novotna hoisted the Venus Rosewater Dish 26 summers in the past.

REVIEW | WIMBLEDON 2024

Alcaraz performed celestial tennis to conquer Djokovic 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) for a second straight time within the Wimbledon males’s ultimate. Djokovic was taking part in simply 5 weeks after a surgical procedure to restore a torn meniscus.

Paes, Amritraj inducted into Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame

Indian tennis stars Leander Paes and Vijay Amritraj have been formally inducted into the Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Fame as its 265th and 267th members. Becoming a member of them was veteran tennis journalist Richard Evans, a chronicler of 200 Majors, and the biographer of Amritraj.

Djokovic beats Nadal at Paris Olympics

Djokovic simply defeated Nadal within the second spherical at Paris Olympics, the final skilled battle between two legends of the game.

Nadal, who was one of many sporting icons to hold the Olympic flame in the course of the opening ceremony, went down 6-1, 6-4 to his Serbian rival on Courtroom Philippe Chatrier.

Angelique Kerber retires after loss to Zheng

Former World No. 1 Angelique Kerber, silver medallist at 2016 Rio Video games, misplaced 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(6) to Zheng Qinwen within the quarterfinals. “What can I say? I gave the whole lot. I’ve liked taking part in tennis. Now I can go away in peace,” mentioned Kerber after the defeat as she had already introduced that it was going to be the final match of her profession.

AUGUST

No fairytale ending for Murray, Nadal at Olympics

Murray retired from skilled tennis as he and Daniel Evans went down 6-2, 6-4 to People Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul within the males’s doubles quarterfinals. After withdrawing from singles, Murray had received two rounds of the doubles with Evans, saving a number of match factors in every.

“I’m glad I bought to exit right here on the Olympics and end on my phrases as a result of at occasions in the previous couple of years that wasn’t a certainty,” mentioned Murray.

The Spanish dream crew of Nadal and Alcaraz additionally fell in need of a podium-finish, dropping to People Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek 6-2, 6-4 within the quarterfinals.

Djokovic completes Golden Slam, Zheng creates historical past for China

Djokovic discovered the ultimate piece of the puzzle to make his profession one for the ages as he took down Alcaraz 7-6(3), 7-6(2) within the males’s singles ultimate at Paris Olympics.

With the gold medal, Djokovic turned the fifth participant after Steffi Graf, Andre Agassi, Serena Williams and Nadal to finish the Profession Golden Slam (All 4 Slams + Olympic Singles Gold).

Zheng Qinwen turned the primary Chinese language participant to win an Olympic tennis singles gold medal when she beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 in a tense ladies’s ultimate.

Sinner examined constructive for steroids however prevented suspension

The Worldwide Tennis Integrity Company (ITIA) introduced on August 20 that Sinner had examined constructive twice for a banned anabolic steroid in March and was stripped of prize cash and factors earned at a match in Indian Wells, California, however won’t be suspended as a result of an unbiased tribunal mentioned it was not intentional.

READ MORE | World No. 1 Jannik Sinner examined constructive for steroids however avoids suspension, confirms ITIA

Alcaraz, Djokovic endure shock defeats at US Open

Alcaraz and Djokovic each had early exits from US Open, the ultimate Main of the 12 months.

Alcaraz, the 2022 champion, was crushed 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 by unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp within the second spherical.

Djokovic misplaced 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin within the third spherical, ending his bid for a twenty fifth Grand Slam title.

SEPTEMBER

Sinner and Sabalenka win singles titles at US Open

A 12 months after ending runner-up to Coco Gauff, Sabalenka was in a position to go away Arthur Ashe Stadium in a much better temper because the Belarusian defeated Jessica Pegula, one other America, 7-5, 7-5 to win her first championship at Flushing Meadows and third Grand Slam title of her profession.

REVIEW | US OPEN 2024

Sinner produced a brutal show of baseline energy as he turned the primary Italian man to win the US Open with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 conquer American Taylor Fritz within the males’s ultimate.

India loses to Sweden in Davis Cup

India went down 4-0 to Sweden style in embarrassing style in a Davis Cup World Group I tie on indoor onerous courts of the Royal Tennis Corridor in Stockholm. India didn’t even handle to win a set in any of the rubbers.

Sweden had additionally received all of the earlier 5 ties between the 2 international locations. 

Group Europe wins Laver Cup

Group World’s hopes of finishing a hat-trick of Laver Cup titles have been dashed as Alcaraz overcame Fritz 6-2, 7-5 to guide Group Europe to a 13-11 win in Berlin.

This was the ultimate version with Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe as captains of Group Europe and Group World, respectively.

From the 2025 version, Yannick Noah will lead Group Europe whereas Andre Agassi shall be Group World’s skipper.

Somdev Devvarman, Purav Raja take AITA to court docket; allege Sports activities Code violations

Former India No. 1 Somdev Devvarman and doubles participant Purav Raja filed a petition on the Delhi Excessive Courtroom, accusing the All India Tennis Affiliation (AITA) of allegedly violating the Sports activities Code.

WADA appeals to CAS, asks for Sinner to be banned

World Anti-Doping Company (WADA) confirmed that it had lodged an attraction to the Courtroom of Arbitration for Sport on September 26 within the case of Sinner.

A WADA assertion learn, “It’s WADA’s view that the discovering of “no fault or negligence” was not appropriate beneath the relevant guidelines. WADA is searching for a interval of ineligibility of between one and two years. WADA is just not searching for a disqualification of any outcomes, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first occasion.”

OCTOBER

Nadal proclaims his determination to retire after Davis Cup Finals

In a video message on October 10, Nadal introduced that he would retire after competing within the Davis Cup finals in Malaga in November.

Sabalenka returns to high spot in WTA Rankings

Within the WTA Rankings launched on October 21, Sabalenka leapfrogged Swiatek to return to the highest spot. Gamers are mandated to compete in six WTA 500 occasions however Swiatek didn’t play in the course of the tour’s Asian swing. She performed in solely two WTA 500 occasions this season.

The penalties noticed her drop under Sabalenka within the rankings.

Thiem retires at Vienna Open

Former US Open champion Thiem performed his final skilled match, dropping 7-6(6), 6-2 to Luciano Darderi within the first spherical on the Vienna Open. The 31-year-old Austrian had been struggling to return to his high type following a wrist damage.

NOVEMBER

Gauff wins WTA Finals in Riyadh; Sinner turns into champion at ATP Finals in Turin

Gauff beat Olympic gold medallist Zheng 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(2) in a three-hour battle in Riyadh to turn into the youngest participant to win the WTA Finals since Maria Sharapova in 2004 and the primary American champion since Serena Williams 10 years in the past.

REVIEW | ATP & WTA FINALS 2024

Sinner’s wonderful season continued as he defeated Fritz 6-4, 6-4 in Turin to turn into the first-ever Italian champion on the season-ending occasion. It was his eighth trophy of the 12 months.

Nadal retires at Davis Cup Finals

Nadal’s legendary profession ended with Spain’s quarterfinal defeat in opposition to Netherlands on the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga. Nadal misplaced the opening singles 6-4, 6-4 to Van De Zandschulp. Alcaraz introduced his crew again into the tie with a 7-6(0), 6-3 victory over Tallon Griekspoor. Nonetheless, Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers went down 7-6(4), 7-6(3) to Van De Zandschulp and Wesley Koolhof within the deciding doubles.

“I go away with the peace of thoughts that I’ve left a legacy, which I actually really feel is not only a sporting one however a private one,” mentioned Nadal in his farewell speech.

Italy wins Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup

Paolini steered Italy to a fifth Billie Jean King Cup title as she beat Rebecca Sramkova 6-2, 6-1 within the second singles rubber to wrap up a 2-0 win over Slovakia within the ultimate. Lucia Bronzetti had defeated Viktoria Hruncakova 6-2, 6-4 within the opening match.

Sinner clinched Italy’s second consecutive Davis Cup title and capped his breakthrough season on the high of tennis by beating Griekspoor 7-6(2), 6-2 for a 2-0 win over the Netherlands within the ultimate. Matteo Berrettini had put Italy forward with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Van De Zandschulp within the opening singles.

Djokovic proclaims Murray as his coach until Australian Open 2025

In what got here as a serious shock, Djokovic on November 23 introduced that Murray shall be his new coach until the Australian Open in 2025.

“I’m excited to have one among my best rivals on the identical facet of the web as my coach,” Djokovic mentioned.

Former soccer worldwide Diego Forlan makes his skilled tennis debut

Former soccer star Diego Forlan made his skilled tennis debut throughout an ATP Challenger Tour occasion in Montevideo. Forlan, the 45-year-old Uruguayan, and Federico Coria of Argentina misplaced 6-1, 6-2 to Boris Arias and Federico Zeballos within the first spherical.

Forlán was the 2010 FIFA World Cup’s finest participant and joint highest scorer; and netted twice within the 2011 Copa America ultimate to assist Uruguay win its first continental trophy in 16 years. He retired from soccer in 2019.

Swiatek suspended for one month for constructive dope take a look at

The ITIA on November 28 introduced that Swiatek had accepted a one-month suspension after testing constructive for the banned substance trimetazidine, a coronary heart remedy referred to as TMZ.

DECEMBER

Juan Martin Del Potro retires

Former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro bid farewell after beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5 in an emotional exhibition match in entrance of his residence crowd in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Australian Davis Cup legend Neale Fraser dies aged 91

Australian Davis Cup champion Neale Fraser, who received the Davis Cup 4 occasions and is the final man to win a triple crown — singles, doubles and blended doubles titles at a Grand Slam — handed away aged 91.

Joao Fonseca – one for the long run

Brazil’s Joao Fonseca topped USA’s Learner Tien 2-4, 4-3(8), 4-0, 4-2 to clinch the title on the Subsequent Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah.

Fonseca, the 18-year-old Brazilian, turned the second-youngest ever champion within the occasion held for High 8 under-20 gamers on the finish of the season.

Fonseca remained undefeated throughout his 5 matches within the match.

SPORTSTAR SHOWCASE: BEST FROM 2024

Paul Fein

– Rafael Nadal: The final word tennis warrior

– What Sinner and Alcaraz, the brand new Massive Two, can be taught from the legendary Massive Three

– Trick photographs in tennis — key to unlocking final sporting success?

– The way forward for tennis is right here

N. Sudarshan

– Alcaraz beating Djokovic in Wimbledon ultimate proves winds of change past the Massive Three in males’s tennis

– Wimbledon 2024: Excel sheets in an workplace can’t evaluate to this, says Heliovaara after fairytale win

– Time has handled Bopanna with a tenderness that defies purpose and logic

– Vijay Amritraj on Corridor of Fame induction – ‘A really, very particular current’

– I’m so privileged, to take not simply me however India to Corridor of Fame, says Leander Paes

Nihit Sachdeva

– Rafael Nadal, the matador, set to go away the sector ultimately

– Damage-plagued Napolitano breathes sigh of aid after first challenger title in seven years

– Dalibor Svrcina, fighter with a racket and deep into Hinduism and Buddhism books, marks his tennis territory

– Vijay Amritraj: Politics is at all times going to trump sports activities

– Rohan Bopanna’s highway to doubles Grand Slam glory: 19 totally different companions, 61 makes an attempt, one goal