This week concluded what essentially is the 2024 tennis season. Itโs technically not the end because the ATP Next Gen Finals are coming up, but for most players, this is the end of the season.ย
As always, the final event of the season was the Davis Cup Finals, which has been happening this week. So letโs take a closer look at what happened at the event.
Italy wins again
After the historic triumph of Italy in 2023, the country went ahead and did it again this year. It canโt be considered too much of a surprise because they proved last year that they have one of the better squads out there.
The best player in the world – Jannik Sinner – led the charge for Italy. Sinner combined with former top-10 player Matteo Berrettini, Lorenzo Musetti, as well as the pairing of Vavassor and Bolelli, who are some of the best doubles players in the world.
Sinner was once again the key man, essentially giving Italy a +1 head start in each tie they played. He played brilliantly, not dropping a set, including in the trophy-clinching match against Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands in the final. Berrettini also emerged as Italyโs solid No 2, ahead of Musetti, with the big-hitting Italian winning all of his matches too.
Back-to-back wins for Italy in Davis Cup to go with their Billie Jean King Cup victory, mean they are well and truly the current tennis powerhouses.
Rafael Nadal officially retires from tennis
Rafael Nadal announced on social media that the 2024 Davis Cup Finals will be his final event. It was something that many had on their bingo card simply by observing how things have gone for him this year.
He had a couple of comeback attempts but every time he tried, he got injured again or things simply didnโt work out. In the end, he made the decision to retire because it became apparent that he could not compete the way he wanted to anymore.
That was abundantly clear at the Olympics where he lost to Novak Djokovic with ease. The finals being on home soil in Malaga made it a nice way to say goodbye wearing the national colors.
The team Spain brought was strong with Carlos Alcaraz present as well, but they stumbled in the first match. The country faced the Netherlands and they lost 2-1. Nadal stood against Botic van de Zandschulp and got beaten in two sets. Alcaraz won his match, but in the doubles, Spain lost which meant that Nadalโs loss was the final time he would play professionally.
It was a decent match from him but once again quite far from what heโs been capable of at his best, which is long gone. As bittersweet as it was, it was a fitting send-off for Nadal, who leaves as one of the best players to have ever played the game.
Novak Djokovic hires Andy Murray as tennis coach
Djokovic has been without a coach for much of this year after parting ways with Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year. He had help from a few players in the meantime, but has not had a head coach.
That was rather unusual for Djokovic, who has always been with a coach. Many wondered whether the reluctance to hire a coach was him simply being aware that things might be coming to an end, and he didnโt want to hire a new one for a short time.
Itโs tough to say, but for now, Djokovic will be playing next year, and time will tell whether heโll stick around beyond that. To get ready for the next season, Djokovic hired a new coach and itโs news that shocked everyone.
The Serbianโs new coach is none other than Andy Murray, who retired earlier this year after the Paris Olympics. Murray had hinted at possibly coaching in the future and his first assignment will be a major one, coaching arguably the greatest tennis player of all time.
Tough to say what will come out of it, but it will be fascinating to observe as Djokovic looks to further his legacy in what might just be the final year he will have on the tennis tour.
Whatโs next in tennis?
Not much is going to happen in the next couple of weeks tennis-wise. There are some minor events on both the ATP and WTA Tours for one or two more weeks. Then, the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah, but that is a couple of weeks away as it will be a shortened event this year, starting in mid-December.
Exhibition events in the Middle East will start midway through December as well, with the ATP Tour starting even before the new year, so fret not, tennis wonโt be away for too long.