3 favorites to win ATP Finals 2024 ft. Carlos Alcaraz

Modified Nov 07, 2024 08:05 GMT

Carlos Alcaraz will be the third seed. (Source: Getty)

The dust has settled on the 2024 ATP Finals field, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz leading the entries. Although Novak Djokovic has chosen not to defend his crown from last year, there’s plenty still to look forward to.

Besides the dynamic Sinner-Alcaraz duo, six other best players of the season enter the tournament with hopes of ending the year on a high.

Some of those names have shown signs of peaking at just the right moment. With main draw action set to begin on November 10, let’s take a look at three favorites to walk away with the 2024 ATP Finals title:

#3 Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev will be the top seed in either of the two groups at this year’s ATP Finals, given his No. 2 finish in the Race to Turin rankings.

Besides reaching the French Open final this year, the two-time former champion also won two ATP Masters 1000 titles in Rome and more recently, Paris Bercy.

A big factor working in Zverev’s favor at the ATP Finals will be the playing conditions. The big-serving German enjoys playing indoors as it further accentuates his powerful strikes.

His skill set was on full showcase at Paris Bercy, also an indoor hardcourt tournament. Zverev picked up nearly 50 aces over the course of the tournament and dropped serve only thrice.

If Zverev can continue the sort of form he was in a week ago, he could well find himself lifting the ATP Finals trophy once again.

#2 Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz has not played as many tournaments as the others this year, but he has been extremely impactful when he has stepped out on the court.

Back-to-back Grand Slam titles at the French Open and Wimbledon established him as the leader of the new crop of players. That, however, was not all that he has achieved this year, as a Paris Olympics silver and a Masters 1000 title at Indian Wells are other feathers in his cap.

While he may have his biggest results on natural surfaces (grass and clay), Alcaraz remains a fierce competitor on hardcourts as well.

The Asian swing has seen the Spaniard post big wins over the likes of Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev. He has never lifted the trophy at the ATP Finals. That, and his recent early exit at the Paris Masters will fuel his hunger. If the 21-year-old can find his footing and adapt to the quick conditions in Turin, Alcaraz could well go all the way.

#1 Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner’s stellar 2024 season has seen him establish a near-4,000-point lead over his nearest rival on the ATP rankings ladder.

The Italian has captured Grand Slam titles at the Australian and US Open, while also taking home three Masters 1000 crowns in Shanghai, Cincinnati, and Miami. A title at the ABN Amro Open also put him among the few indoor champions.

There’s little doubt over Sinner being the player to beat on hardcourts this year. He has won both the hardcourt Slams, and all his three Masters 1000 titles have also come on the surface.

When playing at his best, Sinner’s groundstrokes can be a sight to behold. The Italian hits big off both wings and the quick conditions in Turin (besides the obvious home advantage) will work in his favor.

The World No. 1 came close to winning the ATP Finals last year but could not get past a certain Novak Djokovic. However, a lot has changed for the youngster as he will come into this year’s tournament not as a challenger but as a favorite. And given his run of performances, Sinner could well live up to the billing.

Edited by Shirsh