Top 5 tennis moments in 2024 ft. Rafael Nadal retiring from the game and Novak Djokovic winning Olympic gold
The 2024 tennis season concluded with Italy winning the Davis Cup, Rafael Nadal’s last-ever tournament, in Malaga. Jannik Sinner starred for his country yet again, helping it win back-to-back Davis Cup titles. It has been a breakthrough year for the 23-year-old Italian who grabbed eight titles this season.
Among the other top players, Carlos Alcaraz added a couple of Grand Slam titles to his tally. Novak Djokovic, on the other hand, had to be content with just the Paris Olympics gold.
On that note, let us take a look at the top five tennis moments of 2024:
#5 Jannik Sinner winning his first Grand Slam in Australia
Sinner made a whirlwind start to the year, winning his first Major at the Australian Open in January. He bounced back from a two-set deficit to beat Daniil Medvedev of Russia in a thrilling five-setter in the final.
Prior to that, Sinner dismissed Djokovic in style in the semifinal in the latter’s most successful Grand Slam. His giant-killing act was followed by a resilient display in the final, which gave indications of the things in store for tennis lovers for the remainder of the year. The Italian had his breakthrough season in 2024, winning two Grand Slams and three Masters 1000 titles, along with the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup with Italy.
However, the way Sinner broke the Grand-Slam jinx finally to win it in Australia was a stand-out moment of the year.
#4 Carlos Alcaraz defending his Wimbledon title in style
Alcaraz overcame Djokovic in a classic in the Wimbledon final in 2023, prevailing in a tight five-setter. However, he did not have to toil much in the 2024 final, beating the Serb with aplomb in straight sets. The first two sets were completely one-sided affairs, with the young Spaniard repeatedly hitting his passing shots to stun an on-rushing Djokovic.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion never recovered from that early onslaught, with Alcaraz’s forehand dictating terms from the baseline. Alcaraz thus became the youngest man ever to win the Channel Slam as a 21-year-old, breaking Bjorn Borg’s record.
#3 Iga Swiatek’s fourth French Open title in five years
Iga Swiatek remains a dominant force in women’s tennis. She is a fine player on all surfaces, but it is her prowess on clay that stands out. The 23-year-old Pole pummeled Jasmine Paolini in the final at Roland Garros to win her fourth French Open title in five years.
Her thrashing of Paolini in the final, allowing the latter only three games in all, was one of the most dominant performances in women’s tennis in 2024.
#2 Novak Djokovic winning the Olympic gold in singles
It was the only major achievement that had eluded the great Serb prior to the start of the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024. It was something of an irony that Djokovic had to battle Nadal, his long-time rival, in his very first match in the competition on the red clay of Roland Garros.
The 37-year-old Serb beat Alcaraz in a tight two-setter final, winning a couple of tie-breaks in the process. He was uncontrollably happy after the victory, which meant that there was nothing left for him to achieve in the game.
#1 Rafael Nadal retiring from the game
Players like Nadal do not come into any sport every now and then. A warrior of the topmost quality and an athlete par excellence, the 38-year-old Spaniard has won 22 Grand Slams in his career, including a mind-numbing 14 French Open titles. Nadal, however, lost in the first round of the French Open in 2024 after making his return from a year-long injury lay-off.
Easily the greatest claycourt player of all time, Nadal bade farewell to the game at the Davis Cup in his homeland in 2024. Spain lost to Netherlands in Nadal’s final tie for his country, as he had a teary exit from the game in the presence of his wife, baby son and sister. Nadal will forever be remembered for his tenacity and fighting spirit.