Nadal’s last, Djokovic’s ultimate coronation, Sabalenka dethrones Swiatek…11 images from a pivotal season

Nadal’s last, Djokovic’s ultimate title, Sabalenka new queen among women… the 11 images of a lively 2024 season

Tennis has a new boss, his name is Jannik Sinner. The 22-year-old Italian prodigy concluded in style this Sunday an exceptional season close to the best in history by offering Italy the third Davis Cup in its history. Offering himself on a personal level 8 titles including two Grand Slams: (the Australian Open, the US Open), the Masters in Turin, a first place in the ATP ranking with nearly 4000 points from his runner-up Zverev and a victory percentage of 92.4%, the Transalpine had an exceptional season.

Among the women, if Swiatek still dominated everyone on Clay with a fourth coronation in her garden at Roland-Garros where she has 21 consecutive victories, the Pole lost her throne as world number 1.

On October 21, 2024, without playing, her rival Aryna Sabalenka dislodged her from the top of the WTA of which she had been at the helm since November 2023. At the Ryad Masters at the end of the season, the Belarusian worked hard and got the job done to finish for the first time in her career in first place among the ladies.

The year of legends

If the legends Andy Murray and Dominic Thiem ended their careers during this season, the end that we will remember is that of Nadal. Deprived of a ceremony worthy of its legend, the one we nickname “The Matador” withdrew from the circuit with a final cruel defeat in the Davis Cup. Overwhelmed, the Spaniard logically lost in two sets against the Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp (6-4, 6-4) in Malaga, during the first match of the Davis Cup quarter-finals.

If he was more discreet than usual by not offering himself any ATP title in 2024, the last survivor of the Big 3 Novak Djokovic won at 37 the only major title missing from his immense record: the gold medal at the Olympic Games. He vulgarly “game over” having won everything, enough to permanently inscribe his name in the pantheon of tennis.

The next generation is joining the dance. With the retirement announced in 2025 of Richard Gasquet, the Musketeers are gradually dying out (Gael Monfils will soon be the only survivor), fortunately the Tricolores can now count on the new generation. Among them, the two headliners Ugo Humbert and Arthur Fils finished the year in the Top 20 (14th and 20th respectively). Better yet, the two players shone in major tournaments, winning a total of 3 ATP 500s (Dubai for Humbert, Hamburg and Tokyo for Son). In Tokyo, the two compatriots found themselves face to face in the final for the second 100% French confrontation in history at this stage of the competition in a competition of this caliber.