2024 Nitto ATP Finals Preview and Evaluation
With Jannik Sinner, One Group Emerges as Considerably Extra Tough
For the primary time in 23 years, the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals preview options no members of the Huge 3. Defending and 7-time champion Novak Djokovic opted to take a seat this event out.
What a chance.
Many followers underestimate probably the most essential component of this event: Money. Within the distinctive sport that professional tennis is— the place every participant is their very own CEO– nothing beats cash to make life simpler. Usually prize cash results in extra prize cash.
The winner of this 2024 ATP Finals units himself up for dominance in 2025. The ATP Finals preview reveals a complete award of $15.25 million. If one participant wins all his matches, he would take house a record-breaking $4.8 million in prize cash. That pays for facilities like touring physios and journeys on non-public jets. It’s a extra comfy technique to stay when managing the brutal calls for of the ATP schedule.
Now to the 2024 Nitto ATP Finals preview and evaluation.
Ilie Nastase Group
[1] Jannik Sinner
[4] Daniil Medvedev
[5] Taylor Fritz
[7] Alex de Minaur
John Newcombe Group
[2] Alexander Zverev
[3] Carlos Alcaraz
[6] Casper Ruud
[8] Andrey Rublev
The format for the 2024 ATP Finals: Teams play a spherical robin, with the highest 2 advancing, adopted by semifinals and a last match on Sunday November 17.
Zverev Group
One among these teams shouldn’t be like the opposite: It’s a lot simpler. The Newcombe Group options Casper Ruud, not an important exhausting courter, and Andrey Rublev, who has struggled together with his psychological sport and court docket composure in 2024. As well as, regardless of having maybe the most effective arms in tennis, Alcaraz has complained just lately about quick indoor court docket speeds.
Lastly, Zverev who has struggled with a lung difficulty this fall, has simply accomplished a protracted, successful run on the Paris indoors. Fatigue might be a difficulty.
Zverev vs Alcaraz is a tantalizing match that includes a distinction in types. The Zverev Alcaraz H2H is tied at 5, however the German owns the indoor collection 2-0. Onerous as it’s to consider, Alcaraz has solely performed one ATP Finals– final yr the place he went 2-2, shedding to Zverev and Djokovic. The German’s serve holds up effectively in these situations. As a result of this is not going to be the Spaniard’s first match performed right here in Turin (Alcaraz opens with Ruud), Carlitos can have time to regulate to situations. Powerful name, however because of the fatigue issue, I’ll go along with Alcaraz in 3 units, at the very least considered one of which can finish in a breaker.
Zverev vs Ruud. Alex leads the H2H 2-3. The match hinges on Zverev rallying to Ruud’s backhand and crushing his personal. Casper could be sensible to rally to the Zverev forehand, nevertheless it’s very robust to alter route on quick indoor courts. Plus the dominant first serve favors Alex. Zverev in 2.
The Zverev vs Rublev match shall be a battle of persistence for each gamers. I like Alex right here as a result of he’s been steadily enhancing within the entrance court docket whereas Andrey has not. Rublev’s flat, skidding ball is all the time a problem on any form of floor, significantly for a tall participant. However Zverev is extra mentally match for the time being, plus he possesses the H2H 6-3. I like Zverev in 2.
Alcaraz vs Ruud is a perfect technique to heat up for Carlos. Ruud has by no means crushed him in 4 tries– and whereas they haven’t met indoors– that’s lower than excellent for Casper. If Carlos has a subpar serving day, he can all the time assault the Ruud backhand wing, the identical as he would for a one-hander. Casper’s excessive spin charge on the backhand aspect will solely do Alcaraz a favor by sitting up extra in his strike zone. Alcaraz in 2.
The Alcaraz vs Rublev H2H (1-1) is hilarious. Andrey beat Carlos on clay, and Carlos beat Andrey on indoor exhausting. It’s the other of what you’d assume. Since Rublev misplaced right here to Alcaraz final yr, I doubt 2024 has given Andrey a lot readability on this entrance. However his vitality may nonetheless yield him a set. Alcaraz in 3.
The Ruud vs Rublev H2H favors the Russian 5-2. Regardless of having a profession indoor win share of solely 57%, Ruud has crushed Rublev twice on the ATP Finals. My solely concept is that Rublev grinds himself to a pulp through the season, whereas Ruud takes break day. Lack of load administration catches up with the ginger on the finish of the season. It will shock me if Rublev let Casper beat him in Turin 3 years working, although. Rublev in 3.
ATP Finals Preview: Jannik Sinner Group
World primary and 2-time Grand Slam champion Jannik Sinner opens with Alex de Minaur, probably the most favorable of matchups for the Italian. Sinner owns the H2H 7-0, together with their final 2 conferences indoors. Sinner’s fashion of play is a nightmare for Alex, so let’s not overthink. Sinner in 2.
Though the Sinner vs Medvedev H2H is tied at 7, their collection has basically been one-way visitors. They met in Shanghai just a few weeks in the past, and it wasn’t fairly for Meddy. The Russian likes a slower exhausting court docket and has struggled together with his serve in 2024. Sinner in 2.
Sinner vs Fritz, a rematch of this yr’s US Open last, confirmed that expert returning is the important thing to this battle. Fritz will serve huge, however Sinner’s skill to neutralize makes any nice server really feel irritated. The wheels come off when these free factors are usually not accessible. All that sparring with Djokovic alongside the French Riviera is clearly paying dividends. Sinner in 3.
Medvedev vs Fritz: Meddy has the H2H 1-0. How can it’s that these two lanky superstars– mainstays of the ATP Tour– have solely met as soon as? And all the way in which again in 2022, no much less. I feel Medvedev goes to discover a a lot improved Fritz from a match-fitness standpoint. He’s bodily extra imposing, has labored to tame his errors and is cooler beneath strain than he was in 2022. Since they each like video video games, perhaps work one thing out on Twitch after the match? Fritz in 3.
A compelling 2024 Nitto ATP Finals preview match options Medvedev vs de Minaur. The general collection is 3-6, nevertheless it’s 2-2 over the past 2 years. I name this the “huge steps vs small steps” match. If Demon is match and wholesome, I feel he makes a drained Meddy run and brings him ahead, the place he’s uncomfortable. That stated, de Minaur has been battling a hip damage. It is perhaps shut. Medvedev in 3.
Fritz vs de Minaur. Alex leads the H2H 5-3, and he’s simply the form of participant to frustrate Taylor. Their splits by floor reveal benefits for the shorter, quicker Aussie on quick courts. This is perhaps one of many extra visually interesting matches of the event. I see a good quantity of exchanges of breaks attributable to Demon’s return prowess– in addition to his comparatively gradual serve. I see tiebreakers in my crystal ball. Fritz in 3.
My 2024 Nitto ATP Finals Preview Gamers to Watch:
SF: Sinner, Fritz, Alcaraz, Zverev
F: Sinner def. Alcaraz