Following the conclusion of the 2024 ATP season, a flurry of awards is set to be presented across different categories. This season witnessed some remarkable performances by both established and emerging tennis stars. Novak Djokovic's Olympic win was overshadowed by his slip in the ATP Tour rankings. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz continued his dominance with two Major titles, while Jannik Sinner claimed the Australian Open and US Open. However, many other ATP stars also made significant improvements and were nominated for the 2024 ATP 'Most Improved Player of the Year award.

Steve Johnson's Pick: Alejandro Tabilo

Former world number 21 Steve Johnson believes Alejandro Tabilo should take home the award. He said, "My pick is one Alejandro Tabilo. He has a title on hard, a title on grass, a final on clay, all three surfaces, and semi-finals of a Masters series. Very unheard of if you're not an avid tennis fan, and he's top 20 in the world. It's a great year." Tabilo indeed had an outstanding 2024, reaching a career-high of 19th in the world. He beat Djokovic at the Italian Open and announced himself on the global stage. His performances were so remarkable that he was selected for Team World at the Laver Cup, leaving John McEnroe in awe.

Tabilo's 2024 Performance Metrics

Tabilo improved in every single metric this year. He established himself as a genuine contender on the ATP Tour. His achievements include reaching a career-high ranking, winning titles on different surfaces, and performing well at Grand Slam and Masters 1000 events. His 2024 year-end ranking was 23, with a best Grand Slam result of 3R at Wimbledon and a best Masters 1000 result of SF at the Italian Open. He won two ATP titles, showcasing his consistent form throughout the year.

Sam Querrey's Choice: Jack Draper

Sam Querrey, Johnson's co-host, thinks Jack Draper is the most deserving of the award. He said, "I'm going with [Jack] Draper. I think he made the final of Adelaide, won Stuttgart, won Vienna. That's a tournament at the beginning of the year, the middle of the year, the end of the year, a consistent year. He's top 15, had some big wins, beat [Carlos] Alcaraz, I know it's Queens which is always a bit of a weird tournament, [Hubert] Hurkacz, [Alex] de Minaur. Draper's my guy, just by a little bit though." Draper had an exceptional 2024, securing several career-best results. In January, he reached his second-ever ATP final at the Adelaide International. In June, he won his first ATP title at the Stuttgart Open and scored a highest-ranked win over Carlos Alcaraz at Queens. In September, he reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open, and in October, he won his first ATP 500 title at the Vienna Open. He finished the year as a career-high 15th in the world.

Comparing the Last Ten Winners

All but one of the last ten winners of the ATP 'Most Improved Player' award have gone on to win further trophies on the ATP Tour. The injured Hyeon Chung is the exception. The previous two winners, Alcaraz and Sinner, both achieved Major success, sharing the four Slams in 2024. Players like Andrey Rublev, Matteo Berrettini, and Stefanos Tsitsipas established themselves as regular top-ten players after winning the award, with the latter two reaching Grand Slam finals. It remains to be seen what the future holds for Tabilo, Draper, Tomas Machac, and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, but history suggests that winning this award could be a significant step in their tennis careers.The winner of the ATP 'Most Improved Player of the Year' will be announced during Awards Week which begins on December 9.