Paris, 4 June 2024 – The news arrives when Sinner he is still on the pitch against Dimitrov: Djokovic retired from the Roland Garros. This means that from Monday Jannik will be the new number 1 in the world. He is the first Italian ever to succeed in the feat and he does it alone 22 years old.
After two epic battles that lasted well over four hours in the round of 16 and quarterfinals of the Parisian slam, Nole raised the white flag. Yesterday against Cerundolo he injured his knee: the painkillers allowed him to finish and win the match. But evidently the Serbian is not in physical condition to continue and he has decided to take a step back. There is therefore a turnover at the top ATP ranking: Nole, currently first, once the tournament is over, will lose the points gained last year with the final victory. Stopping in the quarterfinals, he didn’t gain enough to prevent overtaking. Sinner would have overcome him even if he had come out defeated today, without reaching the semi-final. Which however didn’t happen because the South Tyrolean sealed his new position in the ranking with a clear victory 6-2 6-4 7-6.
The Top 10 of the ATP Live Rankings
Sinner finds out about the news from the Philippe-Chatrier speaker immediately after the match. He welcomes the news with a faint smile and a slight blush on his face. “Everyone’s dream is to become number one” but “seeing Novak withdraw is a disappointment”, he comments with his usual fair play. “I’ve had difficulties in this tournament in the last two years, so I’m happy to be in the semi-finals. And “It’s a special moment for me and I’m happy to share it with you and with the people watching me from home.” His thanks go to the team, first and foremost to the coach Simone Vagnozzi and to the super coach Darren Cahill who applaud him from the stands.
Sinner’s victories
In the last year Sinner had already written a piece of tennis history and the top of the rankings is only the latest goal of a ride that began in autumn 2023 with the Italy’s victory in the Davis Cup, of which the South Tyrolean was the driving force. Then came the final at ATP Finals (no Italian had ever achieved the last act of the prestigious tournament where the top 10 in the world compete) appetizer of his first slam won in Australia in January (only Panatta had achieved this 48 years earlier). With success to Rotterdam, becomes the first Italian to rank 3rd in the ATP rankings. From there it was a short step to 2nd place in the world rankings, with the triumph at Miami Open 2024. Today the last step that takes him to the tennis Olympus.
