Sinner cements No. 1 ranking, Nadal sets retirement date, and more this week in tennis

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Oct 15, 2024, 10:34 AM ET

On Saturday, Jannik Sinner clinched the year-end world No. 1 rating along with his semifinal victory over Tomas Machac on the Shanghai Masters, turning into the primary Italian participant in historical past to take action.

And 24 hours later, he proved precisely why he deserves the excellence with a 7-6(4), 6-3 win over Novak Djokovic within the remaining — offering an exclamation level (or a number of) to his spectacular match and season. It marked Sinner’s ATP-leading seventh title of the yr, and he now has gained his previous three conferences towards the 24-time main champion, turning into the primary participant to take action since Rafael Nadal (sure, way more on him shortly) in 2013.

“It was a really powerful match, clearly, enjoying towards Novak is among the hardest challenges we have now,” Sinner mentioned after. “I am very pleased with how I dealt with the state of affairs.”

Djokovic had been seeking to turn into simply the third man to win his one hundredth profession singles title, however Sinner was unfazed by his opponent or what was on the road, nor did he appear distracted by the likes of Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz watching from the stands. As a substitute, the 23-year-old Sinner was scientific in his efficiency and held off a targeted Djokovic in a single hour and 37 minutes.

Sinner wanted a tiebreak to take the opening set however then seized management. He jumped out to a 4-1 lead within the second set and by no means relented. Sinner had eight aces and 22 winners within the match — and by no means confronted a break level all through the match.

Even Djokovic could not assist however be impressed after the match.

“I believe I performed some actually good tennis, however congratulations to Jannik,” Djokovic mentioned in the course of the trophy ceremony. “He was simply too good right this moment. Too robust, too quick, nicely achieved. You are having an unbelievable yr. You deserve this.”

Sinner leveled his profession head-to-head report with Djokovic at 4 matches every, and have become the primary man to earn seven or extra titles in a single season since Andy Murray gained 9 in 2016, and the primary participant to report three or extra ATP Masters-1000 titles in a yr since Nadal in 2018.

This is what else occurred within the tennis world final week.

Rafa makes it official

In fact, that leads us to Nadal’s massive information.

Except you’ve got been dwelling in a cave with out mobile phone service, you are probably conscious of Nadal’s impending retirement. After years of accidents and a unending barrage of questions on his standing, the 22-time main champion announced on Thursday that he could be strolling away from the game following subsequent month’s Davis Cup.

In an emotional video posted to social media, Nadal known as it a “troublesome choice” however was clearly grateful for every part he had achieved and what the sport had given him.

“On this life, every part has a starting and an finish,” he mentioned. “And I believe it is an applicable time to place an finish to a profession that has been lengthy and way more profitable than I might have ever imagined.

“I’m very excited that my final match would be the remaining of the Davis Cup and representing my nation. I believe I’ve come full circle since one among my first nice joys as an expert tennis participant was the Davis Cup remaining in Seville in 2004. I really feel tremendous, tremendous fortunate for all of the issues I have been in a position to expertise.”

The tributes and congratulatory messages have been rapid, and seemingly everybody within the sport — from longtime rivals like Federer and Djokovic to younger superstars like Sinner, Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek — chimed in.

But it surely was Djokovic’s response on Friday that was maybe probably the most revealing, and reflective of simply how essential Nadal has been to the game. Following his three-set comeback win over Jakub Mensik within the quarterfinals in Shanghai, Djokovic was requested about Nadal’s retirement throughout an on-court interview. After calling Nadal his “best rival,” Djokovic talked about the 2022 retirement of Federer, in addition to that of Murray earlier this yr.

“It is a bit overwhelming for me to be trustworthy,” Djokovic mentioned. “I do not know what to make out of it. I nonetheless get pleasure from competing however part of me left with them. A giant a part of me.”

Whereas he has beforehand mentioned he wished to play on the 2028 Olympic Video games in Los Angeles, it definitely appears like the top of an period is approaching.

Nonetheless, each Nadal and Djokovic might be in motion this week in an (extremely profitable) exhibition occasion known as the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Sinner, Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune spherical out the sector, with play beginning on Wednesday and the winner taking house $6 million. Djokovic and Nadal, who each have byes into the semifinals, might probably meet within the remaining for one final time.

Sabalenka’s combat for No. 1

Whereas Sinner cemented the year-end world No. 1 rating throughout his run in Shanghai, Aryna Sabalenka — his fellow reigning Australian Open and US Open champion — was some 520 miles away in Wuhan making her case to finish the season on high as nicely.

Enjoying in her second match since hoisting the trophy in New York final month, the present world No. 2 arrived to Wuhan searching for her third profession title on the occasion, and hoping to slender the hole between herself and present No. 1 Swiatek, who withdrew earlier than play obtained underway as she focuses on discovering a brand new coach.

Sabalenka wanted to combat again in each her Spherical of 16 and semifinal matches, towards Yulia Putinseva and Coco Gauff, respectively. After shedding the opening set 6-1 in every match, she discovered a technique to win each instances. And within the remaining towards hometown favourite and 2024 Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen, Sabalenka needed to battle towards her opponent and the sell-out crowd of 13,000 in a fiercely contested three-set match that lasted two hours and 41 minutes.

Not like in her earlier matches that went the space, Sabalenka was in management early earlier than Zheng calmed her nerves and raised her stage to pressure a decider. However within the remaining set it was all Sabalenka, who took a 3-0 double break lead and gained the match 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, for her fourth title of 2024. The 26-year-old now owns an astounding 17-0 report in Wuhan and she or he later mentioned the match “felt like house.”

Now, because the season races to a end, Sabalenka is simply 69 factors behind Swiatek within the rankings and can have an opportunity to overhaul her. She mentioned it was “very nice to see” simply how shut she was when requested about it following Sunday’s win.

“I at all times say in fact it is one of many targets, however I want [to] deal with myself and simply maintain working arduous, Sabalenka mentioned. “We’ll see after the [WTA] Finals if I used to be ok this season to turn into world No. 1.”

Surgical procedure for Korda

After a robust summer time, which noticed him win the Mubadala Citi DC Open title and crack the highest 15 for the primary time in his profession, American Sebastian Korda introduced on Friday he had lately undergone surgical procedure on his proper elbow. At present ranked No. 22 and the fifth-ranked American man, the 24-year-old Korda made the announcement on Instagram, with a photograph of himself in a hospital mattress.

“I have been coping with some elbow points and my group and I made a decision surgical procedure was the best choice,” he wrote. “Every thing went nice, and I can not wait to be again on court docket quickly.”

Korda, who was sidelined for a number of months in 2023 with a wrist harm, entered the US Open with momentum on his aspect, having additionally reached the semifinals on the Canadian Open in August. However he was handed a disappointing loss within the second spherical by Machac, and hasn’t performed since. No particulars concerning the timing for his return to competitors have been included within the put up.

‘El dia mas magico’

Former world No. 1 and two-time main champion Garbine Muguruza obtained married to Arthur Borges, her accomplice of three years, final week. Muguruza, who formally retired from tennis earlier this yr, shared pictures from her massive day on social media on Thursday.

And we could not resist one other alternative to share the pair’s unbelievable meet-cute story in hopes that at some point it is going to turn into a Netflix film.

As Muguruza tells it, she was bored throughout an off day from competitors in the course of the 2021 US Open and, since she was staying close to Central Park, determined to go for a stroll. Throughout her jaunt across the metropolis, a fan stopped her on the road to want her luck within the match and ask her to take an image with him. As you’ve got most likely discovered, that fan was Borges. Muguruza later mentioned that it was “love at first sight” and the remaining is now historical past. Lovely and match for a fairy story historical past.

This is to hoping for a lifetime of happiness for these two — and a film deal.




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