The 2024 tennis season has reached its halfway point, and plenty of interesting stories have unfolded.
Tennis fans have warmly embraced a changing of the guard at the top of the rankings, but that’s not the only flashpoint of a season full of thrills and highs, with new names breaking through. On that note, let us take a closer look at some of the players who stood out in the campaign’s first half.
Top Performers on the ATP Tour in 2024 So Far
#1. Jannik Sinner
Jannik Sinner is unquestionably the best player of the current season. The ATP race proves that because he’s won the most points of any man in 2024. And as of June 10, he’s taken control of the ATP rankings in a historic first for Italy. With the World No. 1 ranking and a Grand Slam title to boot, he takes his seat as the top-performing player on the ATP Tour.
#2. Carlos Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz’s results at the start of the season fell short of his otherworldly standards. But tennis naysayers took their criticism over the top with the assertion that his eight-month title drought hindered his performances. He quickly dispelled the fears that he was vulnerable to pressure. Alcaraz won his first title since 2023 Wimbledon at the Indian Wells Masters in March. He has since returned to the world’s top two after lifting his maiden Roland Garros crown last Sunday.
#3. Alexander Zverev
Alexander Zverev is harnessing a reputation as “the nearly man” in men’s tennis, but there is an optimistic feeling that he will contend for more Grand Slams in the near future. The German was a set away from winning his first Major title but could not sustain his good level over five sets at the 2024 French Open final, losing to Alcaraz.
Still, he leaves Paris with his head held high. Zverev was a crucial member of Germany’s United Cup title win in January, and he won his 22nd career title in Rome in late May. He became the third man to defeat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros last month.
#4. Casper Ruud
Fourth on this list is a man famed for being the King of the 250s. Before this season, Casper Ruud won ten ATP titles at that tournament level. But he broke that barrier when he defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas to win the Barcelona Open. It was his first title success at the ATP 500 level, and he’s also back in the world’s Top 10.
#5. Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton quit playing college tennis and turned pro in late 2022. That decision has undoubtedly proved to be the right one. He fast-tracked his rise into the world’s Top 20 within a short time and briefly became the USA’s No. 1 male player this season.
Known for his pacey serve and powerful groundstrokes, Shelton is steadily developing into an all-surface player. He won his first clay-court title in Houston and is on the cusp of a Top 10 breakthrough. Despite his rapid success at the top level, Shelton is still pursuing his college degree in finance online. It’s not uncommon for players or coaches on tour to balance their professional work with university studies in prominent courses like a sports administration masters program.
#6. Ugo Humbert
It has taken Ugo Humbert quite a while to fulfill the teenage hype, and he’s doing it with some swagger. When he sensationally lifted the Dubai Championships in late February, he became one of three men to win his sixth ATP title in his sixth final. It is a remarkable record. Since breaking the Top 20 in November 2023, Humbert has not left that group and is now France’s top-ranked player across both tours.
#7. Alejandro Tabilo
Alejandro Tabilo scored the biggest win of his career over Novak Djokovic at this year’s Italian Open. But that’s only half of the story of a fine first half of the season. After many years of chipping at his ranking on the ATP Challenger, Tabilo won his maiden Tour-level title in Auckland at the start of 2024. The 27-year-old has since entered the world’s Top 30 and is quickly ascending to becoming a Top 20 player before the end of the season.
#8. Mariano Navone
Another South American player who made waves during the clay court swing is Argentina’s Mariano Navone. The 23-year-old was seeded on his Grand Slam main draw debut at Roland Garros, which might be a record of some sort. His prowess on the dirt took him to four finals this season, two of which were on the ATP Tour. It won’t be long before he lays his hands on a Tour-level title.
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
