The most unexpected revelation was that Novak Djokovic, who parted ways with his longtime coach Goran Ivanisevic in March and has largely played without a coach throughout the season, suddenly announced that he would be adding Andy Murray to his coaching team through at least the Australian Open in January. .
The move dispelled rumors that Djokovic, 37, who won gold at the Paris Olympics against Alcaraz, was close to retirement, although he failed to win a major in 2024 for the first time since 2017. It also sent a message to his opponents that Djokovic is aiming to win a record 25th major title in 2025.
“I still feel I can play at the highest level,” Djokovic told Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport in November. “Sinner and Alcaraz have established themselves as two of the best players in the world, not to mention (Alexander) Zverev.”
“But I feel physically and mentally ready to play tennis again and challenge these players,” he added.
By recruiting Murray, a three-time major champion and former No. 1 who retired this summer, Djokovic will join forces with a rival from his junior days. The pair have competed in 36 professional matches, with Djokovic beating Murray in four Australian Open finals and Murray beating him in the 2012 U.S. Open and 2013 Wimbledon finals.
“We had different names, but now I realize that the perfect coach for me is someone who has gone through what I am going through,” Djokovic told Sky Sports last month. “This collaboration is amazing not only for me but for everyone.”
The Djokovic-Murray alliance wasn’t the only notable coaching change. Hubert Hurkacz, who worked with Craig Boynton for five years, has two new coaches: ATP No. 1 and eight-time major champion Ivan Lendl and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Nicolas Massu. recruited. Lendl coached Murray as he won three major titles, while Massu coached Dominic Thiem when he came back from two sets down to win the 2020 US Open against Zverev.
Among the female players, Elena Rybakina ditched her long-time coach Stefano Vukov and was replaced by Ivanisevic. Naomi Osaka parted ways with Wim Fisette, who she brought in from Chung, who returned from maternity leave last year, and teamed up with Patrick Mouratoglou, who coached Serena Williams for 10 years. Swiatek captured Fissette after unseating Tomasz Wiktorowski, with whom he had won five majors and was ranked No. 1.
While many players were vacationing on the beaches and in the mountains, the biggest bombshell of the postseason was Swiatek’s admission that he tested positive for trimetazidine, a banned substance also known as TMZ, which appeared in the melatonin supplement he used to combat jet lag. It was. Swiatek’s month-long suspension, which she spent most of after the US Open, forced her to skip the fall Asian swing and lost her top ranking to Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open and US Open.
Swiatek’s ban follows news on the eve of the US Open that Sinner tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid clostebol. Like Swiatek, Sinner successfully argued that trace amounts of the substance were present in his system because a physiotherapist carelessly rubbed therapeutic cream on his back during a massage. He served no suspension time but was stripped of prize money and ranking points for his semifinal match in Indian Wells in March.
Unlike Simona Halep, Martina Hingis and Maria Sharapova, who all faced lengthy suspensions for doping, Swiatek and Sinner were dismissed with relative ease, prompting some of their tour contemporaries to publicly complain about their treatment of stars. Both players admitted the emotional toll.
“This experience, the hardest of my life so far, has taught me a lot,” Swiatek said in a video posted to her social media accounts in late November. “Everything will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
2024 was also full of joy. Sinner and Alcaraz each won two majors. Alcaraz still ended the season in third place behind Sinner and Zverev, who went on to win ATP Masters 1000 titles in Rome and Paris Indoors, and finished with a record of 69-21 compared to Alcaraz’s 54-13. Sinner led the tour with a 73-6 record.
Zheng won Olympic gold representing her native China, while Jasmine Paolini, who captivated the sport by reaching the French Open and Wimbledon finals, won Olympic doubles gold with Sara Errani before leading Italy to victory in the Billie Jean. King Cup. Italy, behind Sinner and Matteo Berrettini, won the Davis Cup.
America’s Taylor Fritz and Jessica Pegula are starting to deliver on that promise by reaching the US Open final. Emma Navarro, Jack Draper and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard all provided a glimpse of the star power to come.
However, if 2024 is remembered for its youthful vitality, it will also be a precious year for those who have left the game forever.
In total, about 23 ATP pros retired in 2024. Among them are Murray, Thiem, Juan Martin del Potro, Steve Johnson and Ivo Karlovic. Wimbledon, Australian Open and US Open titlist Angelique Kerber and fellow former No. 1 Garbiñe Muguruza also left the game, as did Shelby Rogers.
Retired tennis great Roger Federer paid tribute to Thiem, who reached three major finals but ultimately succumbed to a wrist injury.
“No matter the surface, you always found a way to beat me with your thunderous backhand,” Federer said. “But more importantly, you did it with grace and sportsmanship.”
Del Potro, who won the 2009 US Open by defeating Rafael Nadal and Federer, played his last match on tour in February 2022. But he took the court in his native Argentina in an emotional farewell match with Djokovic that left both men in tears as Dell. Portrow draped his signature headband across the center of the net.
But the real emotion was confined to Nadal, who played his last match in the Davis Cup in Malaga, Spain, where he lost to Dutchman Botic van de Zandsjulph. After the Netherlands beat Spain to end Nadal’s career (22 majors, including 14 at the French Open), there was an understated salute on court at Nadal’s request.
Federer, Djokovic, Murray and Serena Williams delivered video tributes. Federer sent a love letter to his friend, saying, “Rafa, thanks to you, I can enjoy the game more.”
“I want you to know that your old friend is always rooting for you and will be loud in everything you do in the future.”
Nadal then addressed the crowd, giving a longer speech mostly in Spanish than before. Nearby, his wife Maria Perello, young son Rafa Jr., his parents, sister, coaches, support team and uncle Tony, who guided him through his formative years, looked on with tearful faces.
He sneaks up on them all and flashes his typical crooked Nadal smile.
