The 2024 indoor hard court season started this week, marking a fascinating period of the tennis calendar. With fast courts and stable conditions indoors in tournaments such as Vienna, Basel and Paris, who will thrive over the next few weeks? Read on as we breakdown the players most likely to dominate the 2024 indoor hard court season.
- Tomas Machac
The first player we expect to do well on indoor hard courts this year is Tomas Machac, who has had a sensational season so far. He’s up to 35 wins already and will likely add a few more before the end of the year. The Czech is ranked 25th in the world, his highest rank ever, and it’s no wonder. He’s never played as consistently as he has the last 10 months.
The tools were always there, with a powerful forehand and solid serving to back it up. The form goes up and down but has been rather consistent lately, which is why we’re picking him. There have been some indications that he can do well indoors.
Machac’s career record indoors is 101-49, which is a superb. That’s a lot of matches he’s played over the years, and even recently he showed that he’s still good. He was leading Alcaraz in the Davis Cup a few weeks ago, and that match was indoors.
Unfortunately, he injured himself and wasn’t able to finish it, but clearly, he’s capable of playing some strong tennis indoors. Certainly a player to watch as the season draws to a close.
- Jack Draper
Another player who has a long track record indoors is Jack Draper, despite his young age. As a Brit, it’s a surface and conditions he knows very well, having had a chance to play lots on it. His career record indoors is 80-30 so far, a ridiculously good mark.
He was 26-8 on the surface in 2022 and 15-3 last year. Draper hasn’t played much on the surface this year, and he didn’t really do well the last time he played, losing both of his Davis Cup matches, but he’s very capable.
The 22-year-old has got a good serve, plus the lefty forehand has been rather stable. If he can find some of the form he had at the US Open and remains healthy, there is a good chance he has a strong finish to the year.
After all, he’d like to improve his ranking a little bit more so that he can get a better start to next year down under.
- Hubert Hurkacz
Lots of people seemingly have forgotten about Hubert Hurkacz because he trailed off after the summer. A knee injury that appeared to be rather serious was supposed to keep him off the courts until next year.
However, the Pole made a swift and miraculous recovery to find himself on the courts during the US Open swing, and he did fairly well. There seems to be some lingering issues with the knee, though, but it’s widely expected that Hurkacz does play in the coming weeks.
He’s always been a force to reckon with indoors thanks to his massive serve, which creates lots of free points. Hurkacz has even played at the ATP Finals in the past, so he has that experience. He’s also in contention for making the finals again, though he’ll need a strong finish.
While rather unlikely to make it, a strong finish to the year could see him squeeze in, and he’ll certainly be motivated to do so. If he brings that motivation and his experience, he’ll likely have a strong finish to the season.
- Arthur Fils
One name to look out for as well is Arthur Fils, especially at the Paris Masters. He’s had some good moments there in the past, and this year has been by far his best on the Tour. He doesn’t have many more wins compared to last year, but the eye test tells us that he made a huge step forward.
The way he won the Tokyo Open recently was utterly impressive, and he’s very likely to keep that going. Being finally ranked in the top 20 should also prove a big boost for his confidence, so overall Fils just looks like a player that is set for a major breakout.
It could happen at the Paris Masters because the crowd will certainly back him. French players are notoriously good indoors, and Fils is no exception. His indoor record so far is 42-30, and it’s certainly going to improve dramatically after this year.
- Ben Shelton
Finally, we have to mention Ben Shelton as well. While some might think of him as more of an outdoor hard court man due to his track record and how well-known a name he is at the US Open, the reality of just how good indoors he is eludes many.
Shelton has a 34-8 career record indoors, and while the majority of those came in 2022 when he had his amazing Challenger run in the US, the American can certainly back it up in Europe. He has a massive serve, moves well, doesn’t shy away from coming to the net, and has some good shots from the baseline.
That’s all you really need to succeed, and he just needs a bit more experience playing indoors in Europe. It’s likely going to come this year, and he might just do really well.
Being nominated as part of the US Davis Cup team means that he’ll be in Malaga playing more indoor tennis, so prepping for that by playing well beforehand makes sense.
- The Usual Suspects
Lastly, we have to briefly mention the usual suspects, like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic. These three are all in strong form right now, so it would be a surprise not to see them at the business end of tournaments over the coming weeks.
Djokovic in particular has a strong record at the ATP Finals and Paris Bercy, while Sinner went on a tear this time last year that he’s still riding. And Alcaraz, well, conditions really don’t matter for the Spaniard; he’s going to be an issue for the rest of the Tour anywhere.
