ANALYSIS | Are these players in crisis? Which stars failed to live up on the ATP Tour?

The 2024 tennis season brought with it a huge mix of fortunes for some of tennis biggest stars. As we saw Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray retire, we’re seeing a transition from one era to the next, giving opportunities for new names to climb to the pinnacle of the sport.

While some players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner cemented their positions as the next big thing, others struggled to meet the lofty expectations set for them. In this article, we’re going to take a closer look at the performances of five notable ATP players who may be left scratching their heads at their up and down seasons in 2024.

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Stefanos Tsitsipas

For Stefanos Tsitsipas, 2024 was a year to forget. The 26-year-old Greek star, once touted as the next big thing in tennis, experienced a sharp drop off in his form and he tumbled down the rankings. After an impressive 2023 season that saw him reach the Australian Open final (his second Grand Slam final after the French Open in 2021), expectations were high. However, Tsitsipas’ 2024season ended with him ranked 11th, his lowest position in many years.

The year started promisingly, with Tsitsipas capturing his only title of 2024 at the Monte Carlo Masters, his first Masters victory in two years. Beyond that, his performances were inconsistent, ending the year with a 45-22 win-loss record. For the first time since 2018, Tsitsipas failed to qualify for the ATP Finals, something he’ll be desperate to put right next year.

Stefanos Tsitsipas struggled to find his best form in 2024

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Adding to the turbulence was his public bust up and eventual split from his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, as his coach in August. Reports surfaced of what had become a toxic coaching and fatherly relationship that had plagued the Greek star for years, and certainly would have contributed to his form. According to some reports, Tsitsipas felt his father’s methods were harmful, leading to their professional separation. "Not making it into the ATP Finals this year was a humbling experience, teaching me the value of resilience and perspective," Tsitsipas wrote on Instagram. He added, "I strive for it, but I’ve learned that perfection doesn’t exist within me, and that’s okay."

The year’s struggles raise questions about Tsitsipas’ ability to reclaim his position among the world’s elite. With a fresh start at the United Cup representing Greece to kick things off in 2025, Tsitsipas and his fans will be hoping 2024 was simply a blip that he can quickly put behind him.

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Cameron Norrie

Cameron Norrie’s 2024 season was unfortunately a disappointment, as he struggled with injuries and poor form. Entering the year ranked 18th, the 29-year-old Brit ended the season in 49th place, his lowest ranking in years and a far cry from his career-high of 8th back in 2022.

Norrie started the year with promise, recording his 200th career win at the Barcelona Open. However, injuries derailed his momentum. A withdrawal from the US Open in August and his absence from the Paris Olympics highlighted the physical struggles he faced throughout the season, and he must find a way to stay fit for longer periods going forward.

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Despite the setbacks, Norrie showed signs of resurgence toward the year’s end. He reached the semi finals of the Moselle Open, and this was a much needed bright spell for Norrie who may have had his confidence restored heading in to next year. With renewed focus and recovery, Norrie aims to rebuild in 2025 and re-establish himself as Britain’s leading tennis figure, but how far back up the rankings can he climb?

Holger Rune

Holger Rune’s 2024 season was a stark contrast to his previous campaign just 12 months ago, as the Danish star, ranked 8th in 2023, ended this year in 13th place. Of course, at just 21 years old, Rune remains a promising talent, but his results this season left much to be desired.

Holger Rune is still one of the brightest talents in tennis

Rune’s performance at Grand Slams was particularly underwhelming. Much as been made of the fact he failed to make significant progress at the majors, raising questions about his ability to handle the pressure when the pressure is on and the lights shine brightest. Injuries and inconsistencies compounded his struggles, preventing him from building on the momentum of previous years.

The Dane’s remains one of the most exciting young talents, but he will need to address these challenges if he hopes to break back into the top 10 and compete with the game’s elite in 2025. Yet, at 21, he still has plenty of time to learn and master his craft.

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Daniil Medvedev

Now we land at the year of Daniil Medvedev, and what a strange one it was. The 28-year-old Russian finished the season ranked 5th, a drop from his position as world number 3 in 2023. While a top-five finish is impressive, Medvedev’s inability to capture a single title this year raises concerns, and he would have definitely been expecting to update his trophy cabinet at some point this year.

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Medvedev, who won the US Open in 2021 and briefly held the world number 1 ranking in 2022, struggled to find his best form throughout the year. The Russian was honest about his frustrations at not winning a title this year, but hopes he can use it as motivation to fine tune his preparation and game next year.

Despite the setbacks, Medvedev remains one of the very best on the court right know, and if he can address the gaps in his game, a return to the top of the rankings is well within reach. One thing is for sure, he’ll want to end his current trophy doubt as soon as possible in the new year.

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Novak Djokovic

Ok, bare with us on this one, we’re not trying to discredit the legend himself, as Novak Djokovic’s 2024 season was both historic and unusual. The Serbian legend completed the career Golden Slam by winning Olympic gold in Paris, the one title that eluded him throughout his illustrious career up until this year. However, for the first time in seven years, Djokovic failed to win a Grand Slam title, a testament to the growing competition on the ATP Tour. So he had the highest of highs at the Olympics, but struggled throughout the rest of the year?

As Nadal and Murray said farewell to the sport, Djokovic has been left as the last of his generation and competing against the new kings of the sport in Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. We all know Djokovic can’t keep going forever, but his win at the Olympics showed that he is not done just yet. But his absence from the ATP Finals felt like a poignant moment, and we’re left wondering how much longer Djokovic will be amongst the elite.

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At 37, Djokovic remains a top contender, but father time waits for no one and he is now certainly writing the final few chapters of his career. His focus now turns to 2025, where he will aim to add to his record 24 Grand Slam titles.

So there you have it, five players we feel will be hoping for better results in 2025. The question is, can they turn their fortunes around, and are there any other players we’ve missed off of our list?

Novak Djokovic

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