Player stories
New post - Jannick Sinners rise to number one
Jasmine Paolini - The Italian with an infectious smile
Jasmine Paolini - The Italian with an infectious smile
Jannick Sinner became the first Italian to reach the world number ranking. Here is how his season has gone so far.
Jasmine Paolini - The Italian with an infectious smile
Jasmine Paolini - The Italian with an infectious smile
Jasmine Paolini - The Italian with an infectious smile
Jasmine Paolini has had a amazing season so far, read below how the Italian has climbed the rankings
Sinner's Rise to the top
Sinner became the first Italian to reach the top ranking
After a strong finish to 2023 and winning his first major title in Australia in 2024, Jannick Sinner became the player to beat on tour reaching world number 2 and closing in on Novak Djokovic.
The Italian followed up his first major with a second title in Rotterdam, with wins over home player Botic van de Zandschulp, French veteran Gael Monfils, former world number three Milos Raonic, Dutch number one Tallon Griekspoor and Alex de Minaur in the final. The Italian would also make a deep run in Indian Wells before losing his first match of the season to Carlos Alcaraz.
Sinner went on to win Miami where he was only challenged by Dutch 25th seed Tallon Griekspoor, losing a tight first set before recovering to win 5-7 7-5 6-1. The world number two would make light work of the rest of the field thrashing third seed Daniil Medvedev where he lost only three games, and reached the final, where he defeated the resurgent Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov losing just four games to win a third title in 2024.
After missing Rome due to injury, Sinner would return to action at the French Open where he was a favourite for the title. This would also be his first opportunity to take the world number one ranking from Novak Djokovic who was defending champion. Due to Djokovic pulling out of his quarter final, and Sinner reaching the semi-final, he became the first ever Italian world number one. Unfortunately, during his semi-final against Alcaraz he would struggle with cramps in his right hand which led to his loss in 5 sets.
Sinner’s first event as world number one was the Halle Open where he battled through to the final with tight three setters against Tallon Griekspoor, Habian Marozan and Jan- Lennard Struff, before a tight semi-final win over the fast-rising Zhizhen Zhang 6-4 7-6(7-3). In the final, he faced 5th seed Hubert Hurkacz, the two players have faced off a number of times in the past, with the Pole coming out on top in their biggest encounter in Miami three years ago. The final was highly entertaining with both competitors playing at a high level, The Italian would come out on top in two tiebreak sets 7-6(10-8) 7-6(7-2).
Wimbledon was next for the world number one, playing his first major as the top seed in his career. He would go on to reach the quarter finals losing to Russian Daniil Medvedev in 5 sets after struggling from illness throughout the match. Sinner was one of the favourites for the Olympic title in Paris, unfortunately, he was forced to pull out due to illness, making Novak Djokovic the top seed.
The Italian will make his return in the Toronto Masters this week, where he will expect to make a deep run. Sinner’s goal for the rest of the season will be to win the final major of the year at the US Open, while also focusing on finishing the year as world number one, as he faces stiff competition from the impressive Carlos Alcaraz who recently won both French and Wimbledon titles and an Olympic Silver medal.
The Rise of Jasmine Paolini
The Italian who's infectious smile has won the hearts of the tennis world
At the start of 2024, very few people would have expected Jasmine Paolini to have the outstanding season she has had. At the Australian Open she reached the 4th round at a major for the first time in her career before losing to Anna Kalinskaya in straight sets. This however was just the start of many firsts she would achieve this year.
Her breakthrough event came in the WTA 1000 event in Dubai where she was unseeded. She received a tough first round draw with 11th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia where she lost a close opening set before taking the victory with a 6-0 final set to upset the Brazilian. She would then go on to defeat another big name in Leylah Fernandez and 8th seed Maria Sakkari both in straight sets. In the quarter finals she was due to face 4th seed Elena Rybakina, however the Kazak withdrew before the match due to injury. The 28-year-old Italian defeated Sorana Cirstea in the semi-finals to reach a maiden WTA 1000 final, where she would face Russian qualifier Anna Kalinskaya, who had defeated world number one Iga Swiatek earlier in the tournament. Paolini came from a set down to beat the Russian 4-6 7-5 7-5 to climb to the top 15 in the rankings.
Paolini would continue to impress in the clay season with a quarter final run in Stuttgart losing to eventual champion Elena Rybakina in a tight three sets. The French Open would be the next event where the Italian would make yet another breakthrough, reaching her first major final defeating big names, Bianca Andreescu and Elena Rybakina on route. However, she was brushed aside easily by world number one Iga Swiatek who continued her dominance at the clay major winning a 4th title. Due to her run to the final the Italian rose to 7thin the rankings, making her top 10 debut, becoming the first Italian player since 2015 US Open champion Flavia Pennetta to do so.
In the grass season nobody expected Paolini to go far as the Italian had never won a tour match on grass in her career. Despite this, she shocked the tour making the Wimbledon final, becoming the first woman since Serena Williams in 2016 to reach both French Open and Wimbledon finals in the same season. She defeated top players, Bianca Andreescu, Madison Keys who sadly had to retire during their 4th round match, as well as up and coming American Emma Navarro and Donna Vekic on route. Her semi-final with Vekic was the longest women’s semi-final ever at Wimbledon, in a match that was an instant classic and easily a contender for match of the season, with the Italian coming out on top 2-6 6-4 7-6 (10-8). The final against 2021 French Open champion and 31st seed Barbora Krejcikova was also a classic, with the match going to a tight three sets in what has been the best women’s final at Wimbledon in a few years. Despite her hard work she would eventually lose the final to the Czech. After Wimbledon she broke into the top 5 in the rankings.
Despite losing her first two major finals she has become a fan favourite around the world. Her contagious smile throughout her matches and competitive spirit have won the hearts of the French and British crowds, with many hoping she will win a major title soon. With the momentum she currently has it won’t be long until she does win a major title and continue her rise up the rankings as she is quickly catching up with the current top 4.
She will easily be a contender for a medal at the Olympics in Paris, the question is less about whether she will win one, more which one will she win. Showing her hard court prowess in Dubai also makes her a contender for the US open title.
Jasmine Paolini at the 2024 French open
Danielle Collins Farewell season so far
Danielle Collins has had her best season of her career so far
At the Australian Open in January 2022, finalist Danielle Collins announced that 2024 will be her final season on tour, following her tight loss to world number one Iga Swiatek. This news shocked the tennis world as she will be retiring at only 30 years old. The American has had numerous health problems since reaching the final of the Australian open in 2022, where she lost to then world number one Ash Barty in straight sets.
After announcing her retirement, she continued as normal on tour, starting in Abu Dhabi, where she lost in the second round to top seed Elena Rybakina in a tight three set battle, after coming through qualifying and defeating the returning Naomi Osaka in the opening round. She once again came through qualifying to reach the quarter finals in Doha losing to Pavlyuchenkova, in a tight two sets. These two results were impressive for the then 29-year-old American.
The sunshine double was where Collins would make her breakthrough of the season. After a one-sided defeat to Iga Swiatek in Indian Wells, Collins would make a major breakthrough in Miami. Being ranked outside the top 50 at the start of the event, Collins was far from a favourite for the title, however she would begin her longest winning streak of her career. She lost the opening set in her first-round match to lucky loser Bernada Pera but only dropped 2 more games in the last two sets. Collins would go on to defeat 30th seed Potapova, Avanesyan, 2023 finalist and 19th seed Cirstea, 23rd seed Garcia and 14th seed Alexandrova, all in very one-sided straight sets. In the final she faced 4th seed Elena Rybakina who she had lost to in Abu Dhabi. Rybakina was the heavy favourite for the title as she had never lost to Collins in their 3 previous meetings. However, Collins played an exceptional match to defeat the world number 4 to win 7-5 6-3 to win her first WTA 1000 title. This title caused her to climb back up to the top 20.
The American would continue this form into the clay season with yet another title in Charleston, where she defeated former world number 2 Paula Badosa, second seed Ons Jabeur, 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens, 11th seed Elise Mertens, 3rd seed Maria Sakkari and 4th seed Daria Kasatkina, only dropping one set to Jabeur on route. This title was the 30-year-olds first on clay and lifted her to the top 15 in the rankings. Her winning streak would eventually come to an end in the WTA 1000 event in Madrid, where she lost in a close three sets to eventual runner up Aryna Sabalenka in the 3rd round. In Rome she would reach the semi-finals losing once again to eventual runner up Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets.
After a disappointing French open campaign where she was seen as a dark horse for the title, losing in the second round to Serbian qualifier Olga Danilovic she returned to the top 10 for the first time since 2022. Her next event would be Wimbledon where she was the 11th seed. She reached the 4th round before losing to eventual champion 31st seeded Czech Barbora Krejcikova in a close two sets 7-5 6-3.
The American will look to continue her career best season at the Olympics, as well as the US hard court season with her home slam in September, where she will hope to go deep into the event, and will be seen as a dangerous threat with the home crowd backing her in her final appearance. She will also have a great chance to qualify for her first WTA Finals if she maintains her ranking in the top 10.
Danielle Collins with her Miami open trophy