Jannik Sinner ends 2024 in triumph. He has become the world number one in the ATP rankings, managing to defend the position until the end of the year by achieving significant results and taking advantage of the shortcomings of more renowned rivals. Then there was the Davis Cup, defended after last year’s success, which brought joy to the entire Italy. What does the future hold for the South Tyrolean tennis player now? Let’s look at his upcoming months, between the court and the tribunal for the doping case.

His Magical 2024

Sinner is the first player to win both the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup as the world number one in the same year. He won a set in each of the 79 matches played (73 wins), a feat previously achieved only by Roger Federer in 2005 and Serena Williams in 2013. Statistics that tell of a magical 2024, where defeating him was truly difficult. Alcaraz in the final in Beijing took 3 hours and 24 minutes, Medvedev at Wimbledon 5 sets and 4 hours. The South Tyrolean is one who never gives up. That’s how successes came from the Australian Open to the Us Open, becoming the second Italian after Nicola Pietrangeli to win two slams in a year. Let’s not forget the Masters 1000 (Shanghai, Cincinnati and Miami) and the 500 (Halle, Rotterdam).

Earnings

Sinner earned 16,914,035 dollars this year, winning 8 titles. The Davis Cup has no cash prize, only the honor and pride of an entire nation. To these must be added the 5.5 million from the Six Kings Slam, the exhibition tournament in Riyadh won in October. The total earnings of Sinner this year are staggering: about 21.5 million euros.

Sinner’s Next Tournament

The 2024 of Jannik Sinner concluded with the success of the Davis Cup. Now he has days of rest scheduled, which could follow the pattern of the past season. Ten days off, a brief resumption in Spain to train in the heat, and then a longer break for Christmas during which to recharge by spending quality time with family. His fans will therefore have to wait until 2025 to see him back on the court. The first official commitment will be the Australian Open, which he will play as the reigning champion with the honor of defending the title. It all began there, defeating Medvedev in the final, who until then had been his nemesis, marking the start of his climb to the top of the ATP rankings. Before that, there is a very concrete possibility of the Kooyong Classic, an exhibition tournament on hard courts in the week leading up to the Australian Open.

After the Davis victory, Sinner spoke at a press conference about the coming year: “I will not promise anything. Every year is a different feeling. We are very happy to lift this trophy and, of course, to enter the pre-season with a great boost of confidence.” He himself confirmed he would take a few days of well-deserved rest: “The season has been very long, I want to enjoy the holidays surrounded by the right people.” A cryptic message, especially considering the rumors of a crisis with his girlfriend Anna Kalinskaya.

When the WADA Verdict Arrives

The doping issue remains unresolved, with the final verdict still awaited. The points and prize money from Indian Wells, the tournament under scrutiny for Clostebol, were removed but nothing more has been said. Sinner recounted his past few months from this perspective: “I always think about it a bit. We have already had three hearings, all went well, and I am confident it will be the same for the next one. I have had ups and downs on a personal level, sometimes I had a broken heart. Life confronts you with difficulties and you have to know how to resist. I have collaborated perfectly for the first three hearings and it went well, we will see how the fourth goes.” The decision of the WADA is expected in January or at the latest February.

Why He Risks Disqualification

The WADA as the International Anti-Doping Agency could appeal to the CAS within 21 days of the ITIA‘s decision. The intention was to ascertain only the existence of any negligence on Sinner’s part, implicitly excluding that he voluntarily took the substance. Sinner has already moved to revolutionize his staff, dismissing Giacomo Naldi and Umberto Ferrara who were his physiotherapist and athletic trainer. The former would have been involved in the massage that, given the medication on the finger wound, would have led to the positive test of the Italian tennis player.

Even after the Davis, the South Tyrolean expressed himself with words that seemed a clear reference to the importance of those who make up his staff: “For me, it is important to have around me people who know how I am. This is what allows me to continue playing at these levels.” Former tennis player Omar Camporese commented to MowMag: “I hope they see it like us, it was a superficial thing and nothing intentional was done. We are facing total innocence, it was purely bad luck.”