Best of 2024: Which Sinner-Alcaraz clash was best ATP match of the year? | ATP Tour

Better of 2024

Better of 2024: Which Sinner-Alcaraz conflict was finest ATP match of the 12 months?

ATPTour.com seems again at 5 finest ATP Tour matches of 2024

November 30, 2024

Because the 2024 season attracts to a detailed, it’s time to replicate on the epic battles and career-defining performances that can keep etched in followers’ recollections for years to come back.

On the coronary heart of the motion have been among the Tour’s standout performers throughout the 12 months: Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz. As a part of our annual season-in-review sequence, ATPTour.com counts down the best ATP Tour matches of 2024.

5) United Cup F, Zverev d. Hurkacz 6-7(3), 7-6(6), 6-4 Donning their nation’s colors can usually ignite a participant’s finest tennis. Simply ask Zverev and Hubert Hurkacz, who produced a show-stopping conflict within the closing of this 12 months’s revolutionary United Cup.

Zverev, requiring a win to maintain Germany alive, rallied from the brink of defeat to beat Hurkacz and ship the ultimate right into a decisive combined doubles rubber. Dealing with championship factors at 4/6 within the second-set tie-break, Zverev pulled off a flicked forehand passing shot that caught the outer fringe of the sideline by millimetres. It proved a pivotal second within the match. He reeled off three additional factors to show it on its head.

“I’ve completely no concept [how I won],” mentioned Zverev. “I saved a match level by hitting a passing shot this a lot on the road, so that is how tennis goes typically. You win and lose by millimetres and at this time I used to be fortunate sufficient in a means.”

In a match determined by the best of margins, it was Zverev who held his nerve to safe a significant win. The German would later return to the court docket with companion Laura Siegemund to seal the title with one other gorgeous victory, kickstarting his 2024 12 months in emphatic style.

4) Hamburg F, Fils d. Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(1)
A title conflict between the house favorite and one of many Tour’s brightest prospects was all the time destined to provide drama, wasn’t it? Within the Hamburg closing, Zverev’s larger expertise and vocal residence help didn’t show to be sufficient as Arthur Fils delivered a surprising efficiency to safe his maiden ATP 500 crown.

Within the dying embers of a fiery, three-and-a-half-hour battle, Fils was daring sufficient to aim an underarm serve going through a break level at 5-5, which electrified the German crowd beneath the closed roof. That essential break level was one among 21 that the #NextGenATP star saved all through the match, in response to Infosys ATP Stats, earlier than he dominated the decisive tie-break to seal the win.

“Once we closed the roof I knew it was going to be only a struggle,” mentioned Fils. “You simply should struggle till the final level, till the final ball. I believe that [I’ve been] practising for this sort of second for a very long time so I am actually pleased to win it.”

Fils’ gritty triumph in opposition to the then No. 4 within the PIF ATP Rankings – the most important of his profession – proved to be a catalyst for a stellar run of kind at ATP 500 degree. Together with his titles in Hamburg and Tokyo, the Frenchman gained 13 consecutive matches to clinch the ATP 500 Bonus Pool.

3) Monte-Carlo SF, Tsitsipas d. Sinner 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
In terms of the Rolex Monte-Carlos Masters, Stefanos Tsitsipas not often places a foot unsuitable. Within the semi-finals this 12 months, the two-time champion within the Principality discovered a becoming option to document his first win over a Prime 3 opponent since 2022 when he outlasted Jannik Sinner in a high-quality conflict.

Their two-hour, 40-minute match was outlined by gruelling baseline exchanges, which have been pressured to finish by way of moments of brilliance. Each Tsitsipas and Sinner fired 27 winners, however it was the previous who reeled off 4 consecutive video games from 2-4 within the deciding set to finish an epic comeback.

“It was tennis at its highest degree that I’ve been capable of play,” mentioned Tsitsipas. “Jannik was an especially tough opponent and it may be seen all year long up to now. He has been very constant and I may see that all through at this time together with his sport.”

Tsitsipas would go on to defeat Casper Ruud within the championship match to clinch his third title on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion, changing into simply the fifth participant to realize this feat (after Nadal, Borg, Muster and Nastase).

2) Cincinnati SF, Sinner d. Zverev 7-6(9), 5-7, 7-6(4)
Sinner was heading into his semi-final encounter in Cincinnati with former champion Zverev having misplaced every of their earlier 4 Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences, however the Italian battled by way of a hip niggle to safe an exciting victory.

In a pendulum-swinging, three-hour, seven-minute conflict, which featured rain within the first set, Sinner displayed outstanding resilience to cross the road. Zverev let slip a break lead within the first set in addition to two set factors within the tie-break earlier than Sinner took the lead.

Regardless of Sinner’s edge, little separated the 2 and the German fought again with gentle fading in Cincinnati. Sinner summoned the power to unleash a forehand return winner to convey up two match factors within the deciding-set tie-break, which he transformed on the second try.

“Typically you must play a bit with the intestine feeling, and I believe this at this time was my power,” mentioned Sinner, who went on to clinch his sixth ATP Masters 1000 title together with his overcome Frances Tiafoe within the closing. “[There were] some ups and downs, which might occur, particularly if you play [for] greater than three hours. It was an excellent match, I believe for each of us.”

1) Beijing F, Alcaraz d. Sinner 6-7(6), 6-4, 7-6(3)With the rivalry between Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner already brimming with spectacular encounters, the Beijing closing was one more testomony to the stature of their duel. By a high-quality show of bruising ball-striking paired with beautiful really feel on the web, the 2 younger stars pushed one another to their limits.

Sinner had established himself because the standout contender on laborious courts in 2024, however Alcaraz proved a cussed impediment for the Italian, who gained their two earlier Lexus ATP Head2Head conferences. Desperate to spoil Sinner’s 16-match profitable streak, Alcaraz’s nerve and ability got here to the fore in a panoramic showdown.

After clawing again from a set deficit and letting slip a break lead within the closing set, it appeared the ultimate was changing into additional out of attain for Alcaraz, who trailed 0/3 within the decisive tie-break. But the Spaniard had different concepts, stringing collectively seven consecutive factors to seal a gutsy three-hour, 21-minute victory – the longest match in match historical past.

“I by no means misplaced hope,” mentioned Alcaraz. “Actually I knew that [when I started it] that each tie-break Jannik performs is nearly to his aspect. I assumed that within the third set, I’m not going to lie, three-love down, two mini breaks for him. So I didn’t lose hope, however I assumed, ‘Okay, I’ve to provide the whole lot that I’ve simply to attempt to give myself the chance to be shut.’”

With the triumph Alcaraz took a 6-4 lead of their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence, marking the primary time both of them had gained three consecutive matches in opposition to the opposite. Sinner’s defeat to Alcaraz in Beijing, nonetheless, proved to be his sole loss in 27 matches from Cincinnati onwards in a stellar finish to the 2024 season.