Tennis, a sport that has captured the hearts of millions around the world, is now taking a well-deserved break. After an intense year filled with Grand Slams, ATP Tour tournaments, and the highly anticipated 2024 Paris Olympics, the tennis calendar enters its off-season. During this time, players can be found in various locations, from the beautiful Maldives to the practice courts, preparing for the new season that begins in Australia and New Zealand at the end of December.

Uncover the Stories and Moments of Tennis in 2024

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz: Redefining Tennis

James Hansen: How did Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz manage to distance themselves so significantly from the rest of the field in 2024?Charlie Eccleshare: The diversity in their games is what sets them apart. Alcaraz has always had it, and Sinner has made remarkable improvements to his drop shot. We've seen many potential successors to the "Big Three" fail because they could only do one thing. Remember the 2023 U.S. Open final between Djokovic and Medvedev? It was frustrating because Medvedev kept asking the same question. Djokovic is just too good at figuring things out. Alcaraz and Sinner can adapt in ways that others can't. Their quickness and talent also play a huge role. They've redefined where on the court you can launch an offense. As soon as the point starts, they're coming at you. You have to attack before they do, but even if you do, they're likely to steal the point.Matt Futterman: The main thing is that they've eliminated the middle shots in a rally. They go straight to the fifth shot, which is the first strike for most players. Casper Ruud's admission at the ATP Tour Finals in Turin was eye-opening. He said he couldn't keep up with their new, ultra-attacking game. It's like playing serve-and-volley without running to the net. They've changed the entire concept of where you can play offense. Any other player, except perhaps some of the newer ones, would be used to trading a few shots before attacking.Eccleshare: Alcaraz may have an occasional off day, but Sinner doesn't.Hansen: It's notable that Alcaraz has a 3-0 record against Sinner this year (half of Sinner's losses). Sinner has improved his serving, which makes his "easy" matches easier. He can hit the lines with such consistency that he can win even when his groundstrokes aren't at their best. His serving is probably his strongest shot.Eccleshare: Sinner's floor is currently higher. The WADA appeal into his doping case, which the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is not expected to hear before the U.S. Open, will have a significant impact on the ATP Tour in 2025. Any ban would change things drastically.

Novak Djokovic: A Year of Contrasts

Hansen: Considering he had a metal water bottle hit his head and a torn medial meniscus in his right knee, could Novak Djokovic have had a worse year in terms of his tennis performance?Eccleshare: This might be the worst year in history for a given player. It's the first time since 2005 that he hasn't won an ATP Tour title and the first year without a Grand Slam title since 2017. But he reached the Wimbledon final just over five weeks after knee surgery and achieved his ultimate goal by winning Olympic gold. This time, things seem out of his control for the first time since 2011. If other players play to their potential, he won't always win.Futterman: I think he was going to win the French Open. Australia was a disappointment. If he had lost to Sinner in five sets, it wouldn't have been a big deal, but he didn't play well that day. He didn't really show up until the French Open, where his incredible 3:06 a.m. win over Lorenzo Musetti gave him a boost. After that, all he cared about was Wimbledon and the Olympics, and he achieved both. His season was over. In this context, he can't ask for more.

The Rise of Taylor Fritz

Hansen: Taylor Fritz spent another year defying the doubters in the face of a new generation of American talents. He achieved new heights, reaching his first Grand Slam final and reaching a career-high world No. 4. How did he do it?Futterman: You can't underestimate how much he's changed. Three years ago, he was a bit clumsy, but now he moves better, trains harder, and his serve is even better. His forehand is more reliable, and he can hit it harder with less passive looping. His backhand is solid, especially in his matches against Alexander Zverev this year. He's also taken the height off his shots, which is a reaction to Sinner and Alcaraz. They can crush almost anything above their waist.Eccleshare: I've spoken to him about his career, and he feels a big difference compared to the "Big Three" era. Now, if you play well, there's a path to the final stages of Grand Slams and the top of the rankings. Before, he would get demoralized when he had to face Djokovic or Nadal. After the U.S. Open final, he realized he didn't have to play in a "wow" way to reach a Grand Slam final. He was solid enough to take advantage of the opportunities that opened up for him. This should inspire more players in the future.

Improvements and Disappointments

Hansen: Which players have made significant improvements, and which ones will be disappointed with their seasons?Eccleshare: Jack Draper's progress at the U.S. Open was remarkable. He played more consistently and well, rather than just having a one-off knockout performance. He finished world No. 15 and had a serious chance of reaching the top 10. He won his first title and went beyond the fourth round of a Slam. He beat Alcaraz at Queen's and is now a player to watch in the future.Futterman: Zverev. If we compare his current performance to where he was a year ago, coming back from the French Open injury against Nadal, he and Fritz are the only players from the 1990s group who have committed to changing their game to chase Sinner and Alcaraz. They're moving better, their serves are better, and their minds are sharper.Hansen: And the opposite?Futterman: Frances Tiafoe and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Tiafoe thinks he should have been in the U.S. Open final and knows his true capabilities but doesn't play to them often enough. Tsitsipas feels similar to Ruud earlier. He learned his game one way and is realizing it's not enough anymore.Hansen: For breakthroughs, Arthur Fils, Tomas Machac, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard deserve recognition. Lorenzo Musetti also made significant improvements, especially on the natural surfaces he loves.

Two Huge Retirements

Hansen: Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray's retirements were a reminder of their greatness and that tennis doesn't always have ideal farewells.How Andy Murray left tennis.How Rafael Nadal left tennis.

2024 ATP Tour Speed-run

Best match:Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic, Olympic gold medal match (MF, CE)Novak Djokovic vs. Lorenzo Musetti, French Open third round (JH)Favorite match:Adrian Mannarino vs. Ben Shelton, Australian Open third round (MF)Carlos Alcaraz vs. Jannik Sinner, China Open final (CE)Corentin Moutet vs. Shang Juncheng, Madrid Open first round (JH)Most memorable (not necessarily best!) shot:Novak Djokovic's forehand winner at 2-2 in the second-set tiebreak of the Olympic gold medal match (MF)Carlos Alcaraz's backhand flick-pass in the final set of the French Open final against Alexander Zverev (CE)Carlos Alcaraz's pick up at 5-6 down in the third set of the Wimbledon final he should have won 10 minutes before he hit this shot (JH)(Top photo: Lintao Zhang / Getty Images)