Sinner is the first true number 1 that tennis has had since the big three took up that position on and off

[SonnyT]

Sinner won 2 slams without defeating Alcaraz. If Djokovic had done the same very thing, it would provoke cries of how easy it was!

 

[SonnyT]

I’m a Sinner fanboy, and I admire the “poptimism” of the OP celebrating a new YE 1, but a little perspective and a brief history lesson would indicate that the most likely scenario over the next 5 years is a musical chair at the top of the game being shared by Alcaraz and Sinner.

This is the biggest talent gap a duet of players has had over the field since Fedal, and it is not going to change until the deadly younger generation like Mensik and Fonseca matures. SinnCaraz’s only threats are each other, and they are both good enough to snatch the momentum back and forth from each other.

So as it stands it feels much less like the start of a reigning / recurrent dominant No. 1 and much more like a very entertaining duopoly that will unfold.

Looking forward, Sinner’s ability to hold his ranking line is huge because he is so consistent across all surfaces, but the threat from Alcaraz will occur as early as clay season next year, if not sooner depending on whether Jannik can backup his superb start to this season.

Carlitos barely played any lead up events to RG last year. He has a massive points differential to benefit from and he is also likely to repeat at RG.

Fedal? There were Novak, Andy, Stan & Juan Martin waiting in the wings!

 

[Winner Sinner]

I’m a Sinner fanboy, and I admire the “poptimism” of the OP celebrating a new YE 1, but a little perspective and a brief history lesson would indicate that the most likely scenario over the next 5 years is a musical chair at the top of the game being shared by Alcaraz and Sinner.

This is the biggest talent gap a duet of players has had over the field since Fedal, and it is not going to change until the deadly younger generation like Mensik and Fonseca matures. SinnCaraz’s only threats are each other, and they are both good enough to snatch the momentum back and forth from each other.

So as it stands it feels much less like the start of a reigning / recurrent dominant No. 1 and much more like a very entertaining duopoly that will unfold.

Looking forward, Sinner’s ability to hold his ranking line is huge because he is so consistent across all surfaces, but the threat from Alcaraz will occur as early as clay season next year, if not sooner depending on whether Jannik can backup his superb start to this season.

Carlitos barely played any lead up events to RG last year. He has a massive points differential to benefit from and he is also likely to repeat at RG.

Sinner will also have few points to defend in the clay season before Roland Garros.
This year he reached the semi-final in Monte Carlo and like Alcaraz he has to defend the qf in Madrid and no points in Rome.

It is obvious that at the beginning of 2024, Cas permitting, Sinner will have to defend many points to confirm the leadership, but this is part of the game, and it is precisely his great solidity that suggests that he will hardly give it up in the short-medium term given that he is a player who has now accustomed us to almost always get to the end in the tournaments in which he takes part.

Many see his 2024 as very complicated to replicate in 2025, but I see 2025 as a season in which he can potentially even do better than this 2024, always Cas permitting.

 

[ghostofMecir]

For many it's not subjective at all. It's about numbers. Yes a minority of the base can have any definition possible.

But at the end it comes down to numbers.

“Greatest” is ipso facto subjective. ”Most weeks at number 1“ isn’t subjective.

In any case, numbers can be relative when one player plays with the biggest statistical handicap in the modern game, a handicap that you yourself have mentioned, i.e., the one-handed BH especially on return.

 

[inflation_era]

Baghdatis Philippoussis Gonzalez era doesn't mean much lol

I notice you left out Roddick and Safin, LOLLLLL

 

[Rovesciarete]

Don't like the talk about the 'true' number 1 too much but it is also correct to state that Sinner is the Nr1 with the biggest point margin* over the competition since the Big3.

P.S. He also dominates in Elo relative to the tour like nobody else since the rise of Djokovic, which bodes well for him.

 

[JoshDragon]

In the event he will not be banned for doping but for objective responsibility towards the behavior of some members of his staff.

Learn to inform yourself before wanting to make rude irony.

Oh please! There is absolutely no reason to believe the nonsensical story that his team concocted, with the ATP, to explain how he got clostebol into his body. The ATP is going to bat for this guy, because he was #1 in the world and they don't want to lose the revenue. Do you think they would care, if he was ranked #460? Hell no. The dude would be out of the game.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

Today is a day of celebrations for Jannik Sinner, awarded (and baptized by Boris Becker) for his year-end number 1 in front of his fans.

I'm certain fans of a certain....player will deny everything you're saying about Sinner, and add the usual unsubstantiated cries of "he am be cheating" / "Ohhh, my stars! He's a bad representative of our sport! Ewwww!"

And by long time I don't mean continuously like Federer 2004-2008, but with great frequency like Djokovic 2011-2023.

Time will tell.

There's no need to talk about Alcaraz, in practice he exploited the ban on Djokovic from participating in many important tournaments to climb to the top of the rankings, from the Australian Open 2022 up to the Sunshine Double 2023. Djokovic, who was unquestionably the best tennis player in the world, was unable accumulate important points to certify his indisputable virtual leadership, which became real as soon as he was allowed to participate in all the tournaments he wanted.

Now with Sinner the situation is totally different given that he is dominating the rankings at a time where the big three have either left the scene, or as in the case of Djokovic they no longer have the ability to aspire to the top of the rankings due to physical wear and tear due at age.

In essence, Sinner's reign arrived at the most opportune moment in giving continuity to what the big three had sown and their ability to constantly be points of reference for the circuit in the rankings.
If you want to become number 1 you know how far you will have to go.

How dare you say anything negative about Lord Alcaraz, who is the best thing certain tennis "fans" see in themselves in like--forever!

All kidding aside, Sinner being on the scene is undeniably healthy, as it works to prevent Alcaraz from easy victories (not that others haven't been capable of booting him from majors this year).

 

[vokazu]

I notice you left out Roddick and Safin, LOLLLLL

You mean pigeon Roddick, pigeon Hewitt and crying Cilic

 

[Shaolin]

True #1s don’t need PEDs.

 

[THUNDERVOLLEY]

True #1s don’t need PEDs.

Then tell this one--

--to stop using, or are so naive that you believe his 2024 training program does not employ PEDs of any kind?

 

[inflation_era]

You mean pigeon Roddick, pigeon Hewitt and crying Cilic

Roddick owns Djokovic . LOLLLL

 

[vokazu]

Roddick owns Djokovic . LOLLLL

Djokovic owns Federer

 

[Subway Tennis]

Don't like the talk about the 'true' number 1 too much but it is also correct to state that Sinner is the Nr1 with the biggest point margin* over the competition since the Big3.

P.S. He also dominates in Elo relative to the tour like nobody else since the rise of Djokovic, which bodes well for him.

And he can win so efficiently, too! Wow that US Open run was a good example of that. Should have been very tough with everything that Jannik was going through but he strolled to the title.

 

[Hitman]

Sinner won 2 slams without defeating Alcaraz. If Djokovic had done the same very thing, it would provoke cries of how easy it was!

Defeating Djokovic, the 10 time AO champion and Medvedev the now 3 time AO RU is far more impressive than beating Alcaraz in AO in 2024.

 

[SonnyT]

Don't like the talk about the 'true' number 1 too much but it is also correct to state that Sinner is the Nr1 with the biggest point margin* over the competition since the Big3.

P.S. He also dominates in Elo relative to the tour like nobody else since the rise of Djokovic, which bodes well for him.

And until Sinner defeats Alcaraz at a slam again, he's not a real number 1, in my book! He won the first slam, and lost the next two to Alcaraz.

 

[Winner Sinner]

And until Sinner defeats Alcaraz at a slam again, he's not a real number 1, in my book! He won the first slam, and lost the next two to Alcaraz.

Did Federer only become the real No. 1 when he defeated Nadal in the 2006 Wimbledon final?

And anyway for the record Sinner has already defeated Alcaraz in a slam (Wimbledon 2022).

 

[SonnyT]

Defeating Djokovic, the 10 time AO champion and Medvedev the now 3 time AO RU is far more impressive than beating Alcaraz in AO in 2024.

Defeating Djokovic in '23 would be impressive! Defeating the slam-less, rapidly aging Djokovic in '24 was a lot less impressive!

 

[SonnyT]

Did Federer only become the real No. 1 when he defeated Nadal in the 2006 Wimbledon final?

And anyway for the record Sinner has already defeated Alcaraz in a slam (Wimbledon 2022).

Federer was the only undisputed no. 1 until his defeat at '08 WB.

Sinner defeated Alcaraz at '22 AO, before either won a slam. Alcaraz defeated Sinner at two slams that he won!

 

[Tallawah Tennis]

And until Sinner defeats Alcaraz at a slam, he's not a real number 1, in my book!

Heh, heh, this made me smile.
I find the crap written about Carlitos' achievements irritating at times too, but mostly amusing. The desperation shown by some to minimise his superb career is bizarre. Insecurity writ large, when putting Carlitos down is somehow deemed to bolster Jannik's standing, as though Jannik requires such a fan mentality to be the current best player on the tour. Just bizarre.

Edit to add: Youngest ever number 1 and end of year number one in 2022, Carlitos regained it 3 times in 2023! A 'true' number one 4 times at the age of 19 / 20. Nice.

I honestly don't think there has been a "true" number one yet since djokovic other than Thiem, Murray, and Stan.

Nah man. Stan's highest ranking was 3, he was never 1. A re-think of 'true' might be required.

 

[nolefam_2024]

This above is all wrong .

 

[Winner Sinner]

Federer was the only undisputed no. 1 until his defeat at '08 WB.

Sinner defeated Alcaraz at '22 AO, before either won a slam. Alcaraz defeated Sinner at two slams that he won!

I repeat the question, Federer was number 1 from post Australian Open 2004 until August 2008, but before the 2006 Wimbledon final he had met Nadal (the undisputed number 2 from mid-2005 onwards) twice in the slams losing both matches.
So from your view of things even Federer before he beat Nadal in the 2006 Wimbledon final could not be considered the real number 1.

These are crazy arguments, also because we are talking, as in the case of Sinneraz, of only one slam clash in this 2024 on the surface theoretically most suitable for the Spaniard in a match that ended in the fifth set and where Sinner scored more points than Alcaraz.

How the hell can you give rise to this theory when in the meantime between the 2 the difference in points in the ranking is abysmal (almost 4000 points over 52 weeks) remains a mystery.
From your point of view, someone who loses during the season to players of the level of Jarry, Draper, Monfils, VdZ, Machac, Humbert and Ruud (coming from 9 defeats in the last 10 matches played before then) not only cannot be considered a true number 1, but not even a true number 3?

The true number 1 is someone who manages to maintain a consistently high level.
-7 tournaments won during the season, including 2 slams, 3 masters 1000.

- W-L record 67-6.

-no defeats against a player outside the top 20, only one defeat against a player outside the top 10.

-QF reached in every tournament played.

-23 wins in slam matches during the season.

-11 thousand points during the season within reach.

If Sinner 2024 cannot be defined as a true number 1, then to coin the definition of number 1 we need to only bother the best versions of the big three.
Or who knows then how one could define the 2022 Alcaraz who finished in first place reaching the slam semifinal in only 1/4 of majors, and overall totaling just over half of the points that Sinner currently has.

 

[Tallawah Tennis]

.............The true number 1 is someone who manages to maintain a consistently high level.....

Nah, man. There is no such requirement. The number 1 player needs only to have the most ranking points on tour, and that fact alone makes them a 'true' number 1 player.

Your attempt to justify otherwise is wide of the mark. Currently, Carlitos has more weeks at number 1 than Jannik. Does that mean he is a better player currently than Jannik? No. But the facts regarding the number 1 ranking are exactly that - the facts. No need for embellishment, or to give it a gloss that has no application to how rankings work.

If what you mean is that it is your opinion that ranking should be as you insist, then that is acknowledged as your opinion - I accept it as such. But your opinion (or anyone else's) is not a fact.

 

[Carax]

Sinner is the first true number 1 that tennis has had since the big three took up that position on and off​

 

[UnderArmServeOP]

OP needs to chill with the theads lol

 

[Winner Sinner]

Nah, man. There is no such requirement. The number 1 player needs only to have the most ranking points on tour, and that fact alone makes them a 'true' number 1 player.

Your attempt to justify otherwise is wide of the mark. Currently, Carlitos has more weeks at number 1 than Jannik. Does that mean he is a better player currently than Jannik? No. But the facts regarding the number 1 ranking are exactly that - the facts. No need for embellishment, or to give it a gloss that has no application to how rankings work.

If what you mean is that it is your opinion that ranking should be as you insist, then that is acknowledged as your opinion - I accept it as such. But your opinion (or anyone else's) is not a fact.

I was responding to those who said that Sinner cannot consider himself a true number 1 until he beats Alcaraz again in a match within a slam.
Let's try not to use the pretext of a speech, since I'm certainly not the one who has to justify Sinner's current strong position at the top of the rankings, but if anything I defend her from hilarious theories such as that of "until he beats Alcaraz... ".

On this topic of the number 1 of this season, or in general of the best player of this season, as you say, unequivocal facts speak about which there is really very little to object to.
It is those who do not accept that Alcaraz 2024 may have been overshadowed by a rival who, because of all this, embroider theses or theories from climbing on mirrors.

 

[SonnyT]

Sinner is the first true number 1 that tennis has had since the big three took up that position on and off​

BS!

 

[Aabye5]

Today is a day of celebrations for Jannik Sinner, awarded (and baptized by Boris Becker) for his year-end number 1 in front of his fans.
First Italian tennis player to do so.
29th number 1 in the history of the computerized system but 19th capable of closing at least one season at the top of the rankings.

Yet beyond these statistical data a reflection arises spontaneously;

Since the beginning of 2004 Federer became number 1 for the first time, well from that moment on, for 20 years the most coveted position has been the prerogative of the big three with the only exceptions being Murray 2016 and Medvedev and Alcaraz 2022/2023.
But they were all impromptu situations resulting from particular circumstances, and in one case (that of Medvedev) they didn't even end the year at number 1.

All this to say that this is truly the first time since the big three established their dictatorship in which one has the feeling that a tennis player who is not actually called Federer, Nadal or Djokovic, is not only deserving of occupying that position, but it also gives you that feeling that this is just the beginning of a reign at the top that is destined to last for a long time.
And by long time I don't mean continuously like Federer 2004-2008, but with great frequency like Djokovic 2011-2023.

No, Alcaraz was.

 

[ppma]

I’m a Sinner fanboy, and I admire the “poptimism” of the OP celebrating a new YE 1, but a little perspective and a brief history lesson would indicate that the most likely scenario over the next 5 years is a musical chair at the top of the game being shared by Alcaraz and Sinner.

This is the biggest talent gap a duet of players has had over the field since Fedal, and it is not going to change until the deadly younger generation like Mensik and Fonseca matures. SinnCaraz’s only threats are each other, and they are both good enough to snatch the momentum back and forth from each other.

So as it stands it feels much less like the start of a reigning / recurrent dominant No. 1 and much more like a very entertaining duopoly that will unfold.

Looking forward, Sinner’s ability to hold his ranking line is huge because he is so consistent across all surfaces, but the threat from Alcaraz will occur as early as clay season next year, if not sooner depending on whether Jannik can backup his superb start to this season.

Carlitos barely played any lead up events to RG last year. He has a massive points differential to benefit from and he is also likely to repeat at RG.

Carlos's bigges threat is himself.

 

[Subway Tennis]

Carlos's bigges threat is himself.

It does seem that way. When the little maestro gets lost in the moment and starts playing inspired tennis, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him lose.

As you say, the issue for Carlos is in finding that inspiration, particularly in hostile conditions that don’t suit his dazzling variety and the effect of his heavy spin.

 

[Rovesciarete]

It does seem that way. When the little maestro gets lost in the moment and starts playing inspired tennis, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him lose.

As you say, the issue for Carlos is in finding that inspiration, particularly in hostile conditions that don’t suit his dazzling variety and the effect of his heavy spin.

As usually I agree, almost fully this time. Carlos does imho profit more from the current ATP balls than any other top player° as he hits with fh huge spin and has the physical edge. The balls might go dead, as Zverev and Medvedev said, but the spin resists. For Carlos opponents this combination is especially deadly on slower surfaces.

Aggressive & attacking tennis is thus even more important against Carlos but only fairly slick courts allow more people to execute that game plan. On clay his top spin bites and his legs count more making it even for the guy with the biggest weapons from both wings almost impossible to hit through. On grass his sliced returns and strokes get tons of spin and work very well, protecting him.

Daniil also pointed out that the balls at the Olympic Games were 'better' and stayed faster which certainly aided Djokovic in that final to crush winners with the running forehand. As a counter-puncher defending very deep he is of course most vulnerable to the changed ball behavior.

We need at least some faster courts to counter-act that slowing down of the ball but it is far from a perfect solution. In short we need a variety of court speeds and of balls, avoiding reinforcing combinations. Paris masters with the olympic balls would be too much as Indian Wells is right now the other way around. Right now the courts have been sped up a bit but the balls have remained dreadfully slow and bad.

°Ruud and Sinner come in second and third, Fritz profits also imho.

 

[Subway Tennis]

As usually I agree, almost fully this time. Carlos does imho profit more from the current ATP balls than any other top player° as he hits with fh huge spin and has the physical edge. The balls might go dead, as Zverev and Medvedev said, but the spin resists. For Carlos opponents this combination is especially deadly on slower surfaces.

Aggressive & attacking tennis is thus even more important against Carlos but only fairly slick courts allow more people to execute that game plan. On clay his top spin bites and his legs count more making it even for the guy with the biggest weapons from both wings almost impossible to hit through. On grass his sliced returns and strokes get tons of spin and work very well, protecting him.

Daniil also pointed out that the balls at the Olympic Games were 'better' and stayed faster which certainly aided Djokovic in that final to crush winners with the running forehand. As a counter-puncher defending very deep he is of course most vulnerable to the changed ball behavior.

We need at least some faster courts to counter-act that slowing down of the ball but it is far from a perfect solution. In short we need a variety of court speeds and of balls, avoiding reinforcing combinations. Paris masters with the olympic balls would be too much as Indian Wells is right now the other way around. Right now the courts have been sped up a bit but the balls have remained dreadfully slow and bad.

°Ruud and Sinner come in second and third, Fritz profits also imho.

Agree wholeheartedly. There is a style of tennis that thrives on fast hardcourt that we are not getting the chance to see enough of at the moment.

And players are not incentivised to develop additional fast court techniques because the slicker hard court tournaments and rankings points just aren’t there to exploit on the main tours.

Whenever the men’s or women’s tour is in Japan or South Korea and we see those slightly faster outdoor hardcourts or whenever I watch something like Henman vs Federer 2003 Paris Masters or early improvisational Nalbandian I’m reminded of a style of tennis we are missing out on at the moment.

 

[Winner Sinner]

No, Alcaraz was.

When Alcaraz was number 1, therefore all of 2022 after his victory at the US Open, and then on and off in 2023 pre US Open, the real number 1/best player in the world has always been Djokovic, I knew it, you knew it, and anyone with a minimum knowledge of the dynamics of this sport knew it.

Give Djokovic the chance from the 2022 Australian Open to participate in every tournament he wanted to participate in, and Alcaraz would still be waiting to be at the top of the rankings for the first time.
Let's remember that when Alcaraz returned number 1 after the Wimbledon victory he was still benefiting from the 2000 points from the 2022 US Open while at the same time Djokovic boasted zero points from that tournament.
If Djokovic had been able to participate in the 2022 US Open which was Alcaraz's launching pad at number 1, the scenario would have completely changed.

 

[Rovesciarete]

Agree wholeheartedly. There is a style of tennis that thrives on fast hardcourt that we are not getting the chance to see enough of at the moment.

And players are not incentivised to develop additional fast court techniques because the slicker hard court tournaments and rankings points just aren’t there to exploit on the main tours.

Whenever the men’s or women’s tour is in Japan or South Korea and we see those slightly faster outdoor hardcourts or whenever I watch something like Henman vs Federer 2003 Paris Masters or early improvisational Nalbandian I’m reminded of a style of tennis we are missing out on at the moment.

Yes, we are missing something out. I always praise players which have an elite return game but it is clear that in the last twenty years pure attacking players with flat strokes have been rarely able to win at the very highest level.

We have no longer carpets nor fast grass in Wimbledon so at least give us and the pros some quick & slick courts for said tennis to shine.

 

[inflation_era]

Djokovic owns Federer

Sure because he had to wait for Fed to get older. He should be leading by a lot more but he wasn't good enough. It explains why he got more slams after 30 than before. He wasn't good enough peak for peak as proven at FO2011 on a surface that favours his game. LOL, light balls, yeah right.

 

[ppma]

Sure because he had to wait for Fed to get older. He should be leading by a lot more but he wasn't good enough. It explains why he got more slams after 30 than before. He wasn't good enough peak for peak as proven at FO2011 on a surface that favours his game. LOL, light balls, yeah right.

They will just never acknowledge.

 

[vokazu]

The first true doped number 1.

 

[Tano]

Fed never won Rome, Monte Carlo and Olympics singles Gold. He's no GOAT.

There is no such thing as GOAT.

 

[Bride of Alcaraz]

Imagine being ranked #1 and your main rival won TWO of the FOUR slams, and you lost ALL THREE matches against him...
That would make you the weakest #1 of all-time!

 

[vokazu]

There is no such thing as GOAT.

Novak Djokovic is already the GOAT of men's tennis — and with 24 major titles, he's still learning​

The ominous sentence that shows newly crowned US Open champion Novak Djokovic is not done yet

Novak Djokovic is 36 years old, has won more grand slam singles titles than any other man in history with 24 to his name — but incredibly, he's still learning and hungry for more.

www.abc.net.au

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5177051/2024/01/10/australia-novak-djokovic-open/

Novak Djokovic Put the Men’s Tennis GOAT Debate to Rest in 2023

Sorry, Roger and Rafa. In 2023, Djokovic settled the sport’s most heated debate—who’s the greatest?—once and for all.

www.si.com

Novak Djokovic Is the Last GOAT Standing

Tennis’s who’s-the-greatest debate is over: It’s Novak Djokovic and everyone else. As he looks to pad his record majors haul this year, the question is how an unconventional kid from Serbia made himself one of the planet’s best athletes.

www.si.com

Novak Djokovic the GOAT: A list of people who have declared Novak Djokovic the greatest of all time

The greatest player of all-time (GOAT) debate has divided the tennis community over the past few years, but many believe the race is now over and Novak Djokovic is the clear winner.

www.tennis365.com

To win Olympic gold, men's GOAT Novak Djokovic hit one of his greatest shots ever | Tennis.com

His career-capping win over Carlos Alcaraz, and the devastating crosscourt forehand that led to it, sum up the Serbian as well as any match he’s ever played, and any shot he’s ever hit.

www.tennis.com

The 14 reasons why Djokovic is the best tennis player in history

Novak Djokovic has long since put an end to the debate over who is the GOAT of tennis. Some will still cling to Roger Federer's elegance, and others to Rafael Nadal's all-time reco

www.marca.com

'I faced Djokovic and think he's the GOAT – but there's one tougher opponent'

Novak Djokovic is arguably the greatest tennis player of all time - with 24 Grand Slams to his name, but one of his previous opponents has highlighted an even tougher player he's faced

www.mirror.co.uk

 

[Aabye5]

Imagine being ranked #1 and your main rival won TWO of the FOUR slams, and you lost ALL THREE matches against him...
That would make you the weakest #1 of all-time!

No, not at all. If you have two great players in the same year, someone still has to be ranked number 2.

 

[Cabeza del Demonio]

Today is a day of celebrations for Jannik Sinner, awarded (and baptized by Boris Becker) for his year-end number 1 in front of his fans.
First Italian tennis player to do so.
29th number 1 in the history of the computerized system but 19th capable of closing at least one season at the top of the rankings.

Yet beyond these statistical data a reflection arises spontaneously;

Since the beginning of 2004 Federer became number 1 for the first time, well from that moment on, for 20 years the most coveted position has been the prerogative of the big three with the only exceptions being Murray 2016 and Medvedev and Alcaraz 2022/2023.
But they were all impromptu situations resulting from particular circumstances, and in one case (that of Medvedev) they didn't even end the year at number 1.

All this to say that this is truly the first time since the big three established their dictatorship in which one has the feeling that a tennis player who is not actually called Federer, Nadal or Djokovic, is not only deserving of occupying that position, but it also gives you that feeling that this is just the beginning of a reign at the top that is destined to last for a long time.
And by long time I don't mean continuously like Federer 2004-2008, but with great frequency like Djokovic 2011-2023.

Sure, Sinner has put together the most dominant single year since the Big 4, but this is super unfair to Alcaraz. He's won 4 Majors and was well and truly the best player in the world for a solid length of time. That wasn't just COVID ranking trickery, he deserved his time at the top as much as Sinner does.

 

[Winner Sinner]

Sure, Sinner has put together the most dominant single year since the Big 4, but this is super unfair to Alcaraz. He's won 4 Majors and was well and truly the best player in the world for a solid length of time. That wasn't just COVID ranking trickery, he deserved his time at the top as much as Sinner does.

Alcaraz was never for a single moment the best tennis player in the world.
Half of his slam titles happened when that scepter belonged to Djokovic who was number 1 from Wimbledon 2018 until the 2023 ATP Finals, and the other half he won when that scepter belonged and still belongs to Sinner, who clearly took away that scepter to Djokovic in the semi-final of the last Australian Open (giving him the first real warning statement in Malaga).
That was the real passing of the baton between two worthy number 1s.

 

[Cabeza del Demonio]

Alcaraz was never for a single moment the best tennis player in the world.
Half of his slam titles happened when that scepter belonged to Djokovic who was number 1 from Wimbledon 2018 until the 2023 ATP Finals, and the other half he won when that scepter belonged and still belongs to Sinner, who clearly took away that scepter to Djokovic in the semi-final of the last Australian Open (giving him the first real warning statement in Malaga).
That was the real passing of the baton between two worthy number 1s.

Are we using the Neptune ranking system? On this planet, Djokovic was #1 for a lot of that time but certainly not all of it.

Sinner, who clearly took away that scepter to Djokovic in the semi-final of the last Australian Open (giving him the first real warning statement in Malaga).
That was the real passing of the baton between two worthy number 1s.

As opposed to Wimbledon 2023 and 2024, which were just random upsets by a journeyman?

Unserious analysis IMO

 

[Winner Sinner]

Are we using the Neptune ranking system? On this planet, Djokovic was #1 for a lot of that time but certainly not all of it.

As opposed to Wimbledon 2023 and 2024, which were just random upsets by a journeyman?

Unserious analysis IMO

If Djokovic was unable to play some tournaments in 2022, in particular 2 slams out of 4, for political reasons, all this does not prevent him from being recognized as the best player of that season too.
Djokovic won 7 slams out of 10 played between 2021 and 2023, and in two of those three times he didn't win he lost the final.
At that moment only his desire not to vaccinate could prevent him from dominating.
Both Medvedev and Alcaraz took advantage of this to climb to the top of the rankings but everyone knew who the real number 1 was.

As for the last part of your comment, I honestly don't understand where you're going with this.
Before the 2023 ATP Finals, Sinner had faced Djokovic three times, always losing, as well as with Medvedev.
Finally beating the two repeatedly as he did at the end of 2023 gave him the definitive awareness of his means that he needed.
Above all, the victory in Malaga after canceling 3 consecutive match points was the real watershed moment for world tennis at its peak.
In that moment Djokovic definitively lost his invincible aura.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Sinner has already achieved a top 10 open era season based on stats. The important tournaments won and ranking domination etc.

He can even beat some of the best seasons like Fed 2005 and Nadal 2008 if he wins ATP finals.

Of course people are thinking Sinner is first true number 1 post big 3. Andy Murray 2016 season was great but it doesn't come in top 15 of open era.

 

[TheGoldenEra1990’s]

Next year is do or die time on clay and grass for sinner. He needs to really start racking up the titles on those surfaces. He can’t be just winning on hards if he ever wants a shot at GOATnessn

 

[Net Beast]

Today is a day of celebrations for Jannik Sinner, awarded (and baptized by Boris Becker) for his year-end number 1 in front of his fans.
First Italian tennis player to do so.
29th number 1 in the history of the computerized system but 19th capable of closing at least one season at the top of the rankings.

Yet beyond these statistical data a reflection arises spontaneously;

Since the beginning of 2004 Federer became number 1 for the first time, well from that moment on, for 20 years the most coveted position has been the prerogative of the big three with the only exceptions being Murray 2016 and Medvedev and Alcaraz 2022/2023.
But they were all impromptu situations resulting from particular circumstances, and in one case (that of Medvedev) they didn't even end the year at number 1.

All this to say that this is truly the first time since the big three established their dictatorship in which one has the feeling that a tennis player who is not actually called Federer, Nadal or Djokovic, is not only deserving of occupying that position, but it also gives you that feeling that this is just the beginning of a reign at the top that is destined to last for a long time.
And by long time I don't mean continuously like Federer 2004-2008, but with great frequency like Djokovic 2011-2023.

Alcaraz was a true #1, what makes you think he wasn't? He beat an in form Djokovic to win Wimbledon. Sinner has won his two slams this year beating nobodies and a really subpar Djokovic.

Sinner is incredibly consistent and I expect him to be #1 many more times, but he still has half the slams of a guy which is two years younger, and hasn't even won Wimbledon once (Alcaraz has already won the most legendary slam twice).

 

[Mainad]

Sinner has already achieved a top 10 open era season based on stats. The important tournaments won and ranking domination etc.

He can even beat some of the best seasons like Fed 2005 and Nadal 2008 if he wins ATP finals.

Of course people are thinking Sinner is first true number 1 post big 3. Andy Murray 2016 season was great but it doesn't come in top 15 of open era.

Andy was a true #1 with a Slam, 2 other Slam finals, a WTF, an Olympics title, 3 Masters 1000s and 3 other titles to finish up that season as #1.

 

[nolefam_2024]

Andy was a true #1 with a Slam, 2 Slam finals, a WTF, an Olympics title, 3 Masters 1000s and 3 other titles to finish up that season as #1.

Yes I agree. I am saying sinner year is open era top 10 and it's one of the reason why people are feeling this way. Small difference but sinner is goating right now.