“From last year to now, I feel I have more experience and have grown as a player,” Jannik Sinner said, after soaring past Casper Ruud to Nitto ATP Finals title match. Beating Taylor Frtiz in the title clash, Sinner became the first Italian to win the tournament. While some questioned his rapid ascent, comparing him to the legendary Big Three, his exceptional performance and record-breaking season have silenced the doubters. Now, Sinner’s exceptional season has paralleled the records of tennis legends Serena Williams and Roger Federer.

Jannik Sinner delivered one of the most remarkable seasons in tennis history in 2024. He joined Roger Federer (2005) and Serena Williams (2013) as the only players this century to complete a season without losing a match in straight sets. This means Sinner won at least one set in all of his matches he played in 2024. This impressive feat was achieved across a demanding 78 singles matches, including his two matches at the Davis Cup.

Sinner’s 2024 season was nothing less than amazing. He compiled a 73-6 win-loss record and claimed eight titles, including two Grand Slam: the Australian Open and the U.S. Open. Along the way, he won titles at Rotterdam, Miami, Halle, and Cincinnati, showing his potential to adapt and on both hard and grass courts. Besides the wins, Sinner reached the semifinals at the French Open and Indian Wells and secured a runner-up finish at the China Open. Additionally, he became the first Italian to finish the year as the ATP World No. 1. Moreover, he became the first man since Ivan Lendl in 1986 to win the year-end ATP Finals without dropping a single set.

Roger Federer’s 2005 season, on the other side, remains one of the gold standards in tennis. Federer’s 81 match wins, including Grand Slam victories at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, in 2006 surpassed Pete Sampras’s record from 1993. His exceptional 81-4 win-loss record that year resulted in a 95.2% winning percentage, ranking third-best in the Open Era behind John McEnroe’s 1984 and Jimmy Connors’s 1974 seasons. The same year, he also captured four Masters 1000 titles: Indian Wells, Miami and Cincinnati on hard court, and Hamburg on clay.

Serena Williams’ 2013 season was a mix of triumph and challenges. Williams’s first tournament of the 2013 season was in Brisbane, where she won the title without dropping a set. Williams concluded her 2013 season with an impressive 78-4 match record and a career-best winning percentage, having won a total of 11 tournaments that year, including two after the US Open. This was her most successful season ever.

Even after adding his name to the likes of Roger and Serena, Sinner appears to be unstoppable. His dominance continued to extend at the Davis Cup Finals, where he attained glory for his beloved nation.

Jannik Sinner shines again as Italy wins the David Cup

Jannik Sinner added another highlight to his extraordinary year by leading Italy to victory at the Davis Cup Finals. Matteo Berrettini set the tone with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 win over Botic Van de Zandschulp in the opening match. This gave Italy an early lead and set the stage for Sinner’s performance.

The world No. 1 faced Tallon Griekspoor in the second singles match. Sinner fought hard in a tight first set, eventually taking it in a tiebreak. He then unleashed his full power in the second set, earning a 7-6 (2), 6-2 victory and securing the title for the second straight year. However, Sinner’s career faces uncertainty due to ongoing legal battles.

In March, he tested positive for Clostebol, a banned substance. A tribunal ruled the result as “no fault or negligence,” allowing him to continue competing. Despite this, the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed the ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. And right now Sinner is still waiting for the outcome. “Of course it’s[Doping charges] in the head a little bit,” said Sinner after Davis Cup win.

“The most important part is all the people who are around me, who know me as a human being trust me — that’s also why I kept playing the level I have. Those who know me, I was emotionally a bit down, a bit heartbroken. Sometimes life gives you difficulties and you just have to (deal with) it.”

Well, Sinner remains focused on his game, but the outcome of this case could impact his future, with WADA seeking a 1-2 year ban for the Italian. As the young champ continues to shine, fans are eagerly waiting to see what waits for him in the upcoming season.