As tennis enters its very short off-season, it’s an opportunity to look back on the ATP and WTA Tours’ biggest storylines, surprises and moments in 2024, as well as the niche moments that the sport can produce like no other.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz seized control of men’s tennis, while Novak Djokovic finally took Olympic gold. Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek battled for world No. 1, with Sabalenka ending the year atop the rankings. Jasmine Paolini, Zheng Qinwen and Emma Navarro emerged as top-10 players; Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula flew the Grand Slam final flag for the U.S.
It was also a year of retirements — Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal chief among them — and controversy, as doping cases roiled the top of both tours after Sinner and Swiatek tested positive.
But what, and who, did you notice and what did you care about? What do you want to know more about, and what do you think needs more discussion? And what do you want to know about how tennis journalism and media work?
Leave your questions and comments for The Athletic tennis writers Charlie Eccleshare and Matthew Futterman, and they’ll answer them later in the week.
Also look out for a 2025 mailbag later in December, as tennis looks ahead to another year.
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