Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka have firmly established themselves as the hottest players on hard courts after sweeping through the field at the opening and closing grand slams of 2024.
Sinner rallied back from a two-set deficit in the final of the Australian Open in January to win his maiden major title, becoming the first-ever Italian world number one just a few months later.
After putting the controversy surrounding his 2024 US Open campaign to one side, Sinner was able to produce a compelling run in New York to add a second grand slam trophy to his dazzling resume.
With rival Carlos Alcaraz dominating the other two majors, at Wimbledon and Roland Garros, it is becoming ever more clear that these two are set to be the faces to carry men’s tennis forward in a post-Big Three era.
On the women’s side, Sabalenka is also exuding extreme confidence on the hard courts, having won back-to-back titles in Melbourne before avenging her loss in the final at Flushing Meadows.
What did Jimmy Connors say about Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka?
Jannik Sinner and Aryna Sabalenka are starting to peak on the surface, both achieving a statement Cincinnati-US Open double to establish themselves as the ones to beat.
As a five-time winner US Open winner, Jimmy Connors is well-equipped to comment on the dominance of these two stars and, according to the American, there seems to be something that they have both unlocked in their pursuits of greatness.
“Listen, it’s a modern game, and it’s a game that I don’t know because it’s a game that I haven’t played,” Connors said on the ‘Advantage Connors‘ podcast.
“But I do understand what it means to mix old school with new with the progress. If you can find that, it seems that the two winners, Sinner and Sabalenka, have figured that out.
“What it means to be able to change the pace a little bit, to move forward and into the ball. To not let the ball come to you, to go to it. If you take a split second away from your opponent, that can only do you good.
“Sinner and Sabalenka now have a fear factor.”
Sinner and Sabalenka fear factor is strong
Sinner and Sabalenka are both now presented with a golden opportunity to finish the 2024 season as year-end number ones on the ATP and WTA Tours.
Iga Swiatek currently occupies pole position but the Belarusian will fancy her chances of closing the gap during the Asian swing before an attempt to win the prestigious season-ending Finals in Riyadh – something that has eluded her so far.
Sinner will also be vying to go one better than he did in Turin last year to clinch the ATP Finals trophy.
As the 2024 season draws to a close on the Asian and European hard courts, Sinner and Sabalenka have the chance to further cement their status as the best players on the surface.
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