The next few weeks are a curious lull in a tennis year that has already handed out its biggest prizes for 2024.

Yet the stories written between now and the final ball being struck in the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in mid-November could have a huge impact on what comes next.

This time last year, Jannik Sinner was still being viewed as a player with big potential, before he won a run of matches on indoor hard courts and ended his year with a victory against Novak Djokovic as he fired Italy to Davis Cup glory.

Those results were the starting gun on his stunning breakthrough at the Australian Open, his rise to world No 1 and his US Open triumph earlier this month.

So while it may seem like we have already witnessed the main narrative of the tennis, the next couple of months should be viewed as a scene setting for what is to come.

Here are Tennis365’s four stories to look out for in what is left of this season.

Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz

Alexander Zverev may have risen to No 2 in the ATP Rankings, but there is no doubt that the new ‘Big Two’ in the men’s game are Sinner and Alcaraz.

The dup who shared the Grand Slam titles between them this year have cemented their status as the players to beat and they could meet on a few occasions over the next few weeks.

The China Open, Shanghai Masters, Paris Masters, ATP Finals and Davis Cup Finals could all provide a stage for the new big rivalry in men’s tennis.

Psychological blows can be landed and huge prize money claimed by both Sinner and Alcaraz and by the time we get to the Australian Open in January, the balance of power between the duo may have shifted.

What about Novak Djokovic?

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has confirmed he intends to play at the Shanghai Masters, which is something of a surprise.

He has not taken part in the Asian swing of the ATP Tour since 2019 and his presence in China suggests he has a little more motivation to play in Masters 1000 events than he has publically suggested in recent months.

Djokovic’s body language and desire to compete in Shanghai will tell us a lot about what he wants to get out of the rest of a year that was dominated by his successful push to win an Olympic gold medal in Paris.

If Djokovic steps on court in Shanghai and feels he doesn’t need to be there, he may well lose early and call time on his 2024 season.

Look out for

Jack Draper and Ben Shelton have the potential to get in the top ten mix next year and the next few weeks could push them closer to that target.

Draper’s run to the US Open semi-finals was a breakthrough moment for the 22-year-old Brit who has a power-packed game that will trouble the best if he can stay fit and improve on his stamina in hot conditions.

Shelton is a little further down the road of his development as he has been a factor at the top of the men’s game for a couple of years and this duo have the potential to develop big fanbases with younger audiences as they rise up the tennis ladder.

Who’s under pressure?

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune have seen their careers plunged into reverse mode this year and they need to stop the slide.

The early signs are not good for Tsitsipas, as he lost his first round match at the Japan Open against American wild card Alex Michelsen and looked bereft of confidence as he slumped to another defeat.

The Greek star has had to get used to life outside the top ten of the ATP Rankings and his slide could be even more acute if he fails to find some form.

Tsitsipas and Rune both made it through to last year’s ATP Finals, but they are outsiders to qualify for Turin again, with Rune almost certain to miss out as he is down in 16th place in the current ATP Race list.

This young Dane has been changing coaches more often than rackets in recent months and that is always a sign of a player trying to blame others for his own failings.

Rune’s self-confidence has always shone through, but it must have been shaken by the events of 2024 as his status as one of the rising stars of the game is now in doubt.