The tie between Jannik Sinner y Carlos Alcaraz in the Grand Slam of this 2024, two for each one, neither for you nor for me, but behind that brilliance a conclusion appears: the Italian’s dominance this season is undeniable. After his three Masters 1000s and his consequent rise to the top of the world ranking, Sinner closed the ATP circuit this Sunday with another title, his first Masters Cup, to place himself several steps above the rest.
His score on the list suggests this – he has reached 11,830 points – but his tennis confirms it, so resounding, so perfect. In his evolution there is learning on clay and grass, where Alcaraz surpasses him, but on hard court there is no one capable of challenging him and it is the surface on which the most tournaments are played throughout the year. If you also add a roof, protected from the elements, your robotic game seems impossible to deprogram, to disconnect, to unplug.
This Sunday in the final of the ATP Finals against Taylor Fritz His 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour and 24 minutes came as if by inertia: there was no other possible outcome. After winning all the matches of the tournament without giving up a single set, Sinner was going to win, he had to win and the only thing left to know was how long it would take to achieve it. Fritz, a good tennis player in the best moment of his career, a player with a style similar to that of the Italian, could only despair in the face of the irremediable. Since I achieved it Ivan Lendl In 1986, no one had won the Masters Cup without losing any period.
Sinner hit the lines like never before – up to 14 aces with 71% of firsts -, attacked with his rest like never before, hit with his forehand like never before – 28 winners – and moved around the court as if he were at home because he really I was at home. He barely allowed a break ball to Fritz, which he resolved with ease, and instead had multiple opportunities to break the American’s serve. As soon as he achieved it, each period ended until the final victory.
Party in Turin
The public at the Inalpi Arena in Turin, in a vibrant atmosphere, erupted in a historic celebration in an example of the paradox of the Masters Cup. I recognized it Alex Corretjachampion in 1998, in the preview: “In Spain we don’t appreciate the Masters enough because we don’t usually win it.” While in Spain the champions tournament has gone unnoticed due to Carlos Alcaraz’s cold and the upcoming farewell of Rafa Nadal In the Davis Cup, Italy has experienced it as a landing on the Moon.
After many decades of practically not existing in world tennis, Sinner has elevated his country to the most exclusive elite and that was evident this Sunday in the stands. In addition to the marketing of the current number one, there were banners and a fervor that shows that he is a national idol and will be for many years. If his positive result for doping this year was an anxiety, today the path is once again straight upwards, towards the sky.
And now, it threatens Davis
In fact, this promotion to hero of Italy collides with the historic moment that Spain will experience starting this Tuesday. The Davis Cup draw placed Alcaraz, Nadal, Bautista and company among affordable rivals, but in the final, if there is no surprise, Sinner will emerge at all times. The present is flat, with the Netherlands in the quarterfinals and Germany – without Alexander Zverev– or Canada in the semi-finals, but the future is as high as Monte Rosa.
Only fatigue could grip number one, although he seems immune. This season he has played 76 matches, of which he has won 70, 16 of which were against players in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings. If there was a bad moment this year it was their loss in the Wimbledon quarterfinals against Daniil Medvedevbut he recovered by giving up the Olympic Games and facing an autumn in which he also looks fresher than his adversaries. After the entire season, one conclusion appears: the Italian’s dominance is undeniable.