Jannik Sinner 2024 season sums up to: Two Grand Slam titles, the year-end top ranking, an ATP Finals victory, and unwavering home-crowd support. On Sunday, the crowd inside Inalpi Arena turned into a sea of orange, a tribute to Sinner’s distinctive hair color and quirky on-court antics. Fans donned carrot costumes, orange wigs, hats, and jackets, some even playfully nibbling on carrots. How did Sinner’s opponent, Taylor Fritz navigate the sea of orange?

The arena erupted in the familiar chant of ‘Ole, Ole, Ole; Sin-ner, Sin-ner’ as Sinner sealed a crucial break point with a deft drop shot, taking the first set 4-3. Serving for the set, Sinner faced a break point but saved it with a strong serve out wide that Fritz couldn’t return. He then hit his 10th ace of the set to finish it in style. Another break by Sinner early in the second and the match was virtually over. Reflecting on the atmosphere, in a post-match conference, Fritz said, “I’m not sure if you’re aware of some of my history of playing matches in opposing country crowds. I’ve dealt with a lot worse. This is nothing (smiling).”

Fritz has much to celebrate this season. He reached his first Grand Slam final at the US Open and finished the year ranked a career-high World No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Despite losing to Sinner in straight sets, Fritz remained optimistic about his progress. “It’s been a really good week for me. Obviously, it’s a good way to end the year. It gives me a lot of confidence finishing the season like this,” he said. Fritz recalled feeling out of place when he briefly ranked World No. 5 in 2023. “Back then I was five, but I didn’t feel like I was five. Now I’m ranked where I’m at. I feel like I belong,” he added.

For this match, Sinner’s performance was too strong to handle, especially his serve. “He’s playing great. I felt from the baseline, it was pretty similar to the previous match we played. What I was really impressed with today was how he served. He served absolutely lights out. So many lines. He placed the serve great. He took a lot of risk on the second serve as well,” Fritz said. He credited Sinner for his ability to serve aggressively while maintaining consistency under pressure.

Taylor Fritz, who posted a 51-23 match record this year, is already eyeing improvements for 2025. “I definitely need to get more explosive and quicker in the first step,” he said. He emphasized how better movement could significantly improve his return game. Fritz also identified his backhand as a weakness during long matches, especially when balls became worn out. “Something that got exposed today is when the balls got pretty worn out, I was struggling to generate any power with my backhand. It allowed him to take control of a lot of points,” he admitted.

Having claimed titles in Delray Beach Open and Eastbourne this season, he remains focused on closing that gap in 2025. Before that, Fritz will cap his season at the Davis Cup Finals, aiming to build on his stellar year. Having made the finals in Turin, Taylor Fritz also managed to join the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in a new milestone.

Taylor Fritz matches the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to create a new milestone

Taylor Fritz showed remarkable progress in 2024, breaking past long-standing barriers in his career. One of his standout moments came at the Nitto ATP Finals, where he ended Alexander Zverev’s eight-match winning streak. Zverev entered the tournament unbeaten since the Paris Masters and had not been broken on serve. Fritz rose to the challenge, overcoming the German’s dominance with a confident 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3) victory. The 27-year-old also earned impressive wins against Daniil Medvedev, and Alex de Minaur to become the first American since James Blake in 2006 to reach the Nitto ATP Finals’ title match.

This win added another milestone to an already historic season for Fritz. Earlier in the year, he finally broke through the quarter-final hurdle at Grand Slam tournaments. He reached his first major semi-final at the Australian Open and Wimbledon and made his maiden Grand Slam final at the US Open. These accomplishments marked a turning point for the 27-year-old, who had previously struggled to make deep runs in the biggest events. His success this year firmly established him as a top contender on the tour.

In a year dominated by rising stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, Fritz proved his mettle against the best. He secured 10 victories over Top 10 opponents, often in high-pressure matches. While Sinner leads the season with 15 wins against the Top 10, and Alcaraz follows with 12, Fritz’s record solidifies his place among the sport’s elite. His ability to deliver in crucial moments underscores his evolution as a consistent threat at the top level of tennis.