Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have dominated the 2024 Grand Slam scene, every claiming two of the game’s largest titles and solidifying their locations because the brightest stars of tennis’s new golden era.
On Sunday, Sinner added the U.S. Open to his Australian Open victory from January, dispatching Taylor Fritz in a decisive last.
Sinner’s accomplishment marks the primary time since Guillermo Vilas in 1977 {that a} participant has received their first two Grand Slam titles in the identical season – an achievement that even legends like Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi by no means reached.
Two years youthful than Sinner, Alcaraz captured the French Open and defended his Wimbledon crown in 2024, bringing his Grand Slam tally to 4.
“It’s a bit different, for sure,” Sinner mentioned Sunday when requested to evaluate the brand new period. “It’s nice to see new champions. Nice to see new rivalries. I will always have players who are going to make me a better player because there are going to be times where they beat me. Then you have to try to find a way to win against certain players.”
The 23-year-old Italian has six titles this yr, whereas Alcaraz has three. Both males have already collected 15 profession titles every.
Alcaraz is making Grand Slam historical past sooner than the “Big Three” of Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic regardless of a shock second-round exit on the U.S. Open. None of the three legends managed to win 4 majors earlier than their twenty second birthday.
Djokovic didn’t win his fourth Slam till the 2011 U.S. Open when he was 24. Nadal was 22 when he earned his fourth on the French Open in 2008, whereas Federer was 23 when he collected his fourth main on the 2004 U.S. Open.
Alcaraz might declare a profession Grand Slam on the age of 21 if he wins a maiden Australian Open in January subsequent yr.
Setting slam information
Djokovic stays tied with Margaret Court for the all-time document of 24 Grand Slam titles. For the primary time since 2017, he’ll end a season with no Grand Slam trophy.
Djokovic can be 38 subsequent May, and if he had been so as to add one other Slam to his assortment, he would grow to be the oldest main singles champion, surpassing Ken Rosewall, who was simply over 37 when he received the 1972 Australian Open.
The now-retired Roger Federer was 36 and 5 months outdated when he claimed his twentieth and final Slam on the 2018 Australian Open. Nadal will flip 39 in May, however the injury-plagued Spaniard is getting ready to retirement. He was two days previous his thirty sixth birthday when he received his twenty second main and 14th French Open in 2022.
This yr marks the primary since 2002 that a minimum of one of many Slams didn’t fall to a member of the “Big Three.”
Go deep in tournaments
Fritz, enjoying in his first Slam last on the age of 26, believes the majors are extra open than ever.
“I don’t think you have to play unbelievable to go deep in tournaments and contend,” he mentioned Sunday. “You can find yourself a little deeper in the draws, like the quarterfinals, if you just play solid tennis, although I still think to beat the top guys you need to bring your best game.”
Both Djokovic and Nadal are anticipated to return to motion quickly. Djokovic is on Davis Cup obligation in Belgrade with Serbia within the week forward, whereas Nadal, who hasn’t performed for the reason that Olympics, is because of function within the Laver Cup in Berlin from September 20.
Both males are more likely to face questions on their future plans in a sport they dominated for a lot of the previous twenty years, however the place the clock is ticking.
Source: www.dailysabah.com