Novak Djokovic tightened his iron grip on men's tennis in 2023 but fans got another glimpse of the sport's future flagbearers as Carlos Alcaraz stopped the Serb from sweeping the Grand Slams and Jannik Sinner landed a late blow.
Playing some of his best tennis at 36, and having crossed a record 400 weeks at the top of the world rankings, Djokovic is primed to push for a Golden Slam of winning all four majors and the Olympic crown in Paris next year.
"The drive is still there. My body has been serving me well, listening to me well," Djokovic said after clinching his record seventh ATP Finals title.
"The mindset is the same. I'll keep going."
Djokovic's supremacy in an extraordinary season helped him equal the injured Rafa Nadal's tally of 22 major titles at the Australian Open with a hamstring tear and surpass his old rival at the French Open, crushing a cramping Alcaraz along the way.
But a rejuvenated Alcaraz ended Djokovic's Wimbledon reign in an epic five-setter to capture his second Grand Slam title and suggest that, after nearly two decades of "Big Three" control, a changing of the guard was imminent.
Those hoping a new era was about to begin would be disappointed, however, as Djokovic lifted a 24th Grand Slam title at the U.S. Open and secured the year-end number one spot at the ATP Finals where he dismantled Sinner to prevail.
Few would dare bet against the Serb enjoying another stellar season in 2024 but if anyone is going to stop him it will be the fearless and fast-learning Alcaraz.
The 20-year-old Spaniard will need to remain injury-free and iron out the flaws that derailed him in three of their four meetings in 2023 if he is to go toe-to-toe with Djokovic.
Sinner emerged as another potential threat deep into the season, stunning Djokovic twice in one day at the Davis Cup before masterminding Italy's triumph.
"Djokovic said he was ready to win the four Grand Slams and Olympic gold, but we're here to stop him," Alcaraz said during an exhibition event in Mexico last week, as he looked ahead to an "intense" 2024.
Nadal, a member of the all-conquering triumvirate alongside Djokovic and the retired Roger Federer, will look to add a final chapter to his glittering but injury-plagued career in what is likely to be his last season on tour.
The Spaniard has not played since suffering a hip problem at the Australian Open and it would be a huge surprise if he is able to make up ground on Djokovic in the Grand Slam chase.
The women's game was a refreshing contrast to the men's, churning out four different Grand Slam champions in Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Marketa Vondrousova and Coco Gauff, with the fight for the year-end top ranking going down to the wire.
French Open champion Swiatek returned to her perch to deny a vastly-improved Sabalenka at the end of a gruelling campaign but may find 2024 more challenging if Elena Rybakina rediscovers her best form and Ons Jabeur steps up her bid for a first slam.
Major champions Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber will also return after their maternity breaks, following in the footsteps of Caroline Wozniacki, with the trio adding spice to the ultra-competitive field.
Reuters
Sat Dec 09 2023
Novak Djokovic is primed to push for a Golden Slam of winning all four majors and the Olympic crown in Paris next year. - REUTERS/Filepic
Showcase The A.C.A.B. selepas 18 tahun bakal gamit nostalgia
Selepas 18 tahun berehat, The A.C.A.B Kembali dalam sebuah showcase mempersembahkan lagu dalam satu-satunya album dan barisan anggota asal menerusi This Is The A.C.A.B - Indie Nostalgic Showcase 2024.
AWANI Tonight: 27th May 2024
#AWANITonight with Hafiz Marzukhi
- MMA Poll: Only 5% Of public hospitals, clinics have enough manpower
- Israeli strike on Rafah draws international criticism
- MMA Poll: Only 5% Of public hospitals, clinics have enough manpower
- Israeli strike on Rafah draws international criticism
SMEC akan dijadikan acara tahunan - Abang Johari
Abang Johari berkata pengamal media seharusnya menyesuaikan diri dengan proses migrasi teknologi masa kini.
AWANI Ringkas: Tujuh kenderaan rosak di Puchong
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
AWANI Tonight: Israeli strike on Rafah draws international criticism
An Israeli air strike on a refugee camp in Rafah has drawn condemnation from European leaders, just two days after the International Court of Justice ordered it to halt its military operations in the southern Gaza city.
AWANI Tonight: Faisal Halim moved to secret location for recovery
After being discharged from hospital on Sunday, Selangor FC player Faisal Halim has been moved to a secret location for security reasons to allow him to fully recover.
Warga emas ditemukan mati di ladang kelapa sawit - Polis
Seorang lelaki warga emas berusia 70 tahun ditemukan mati di ladang kelapa sawit dekat Pasir Layang, Kampung Bunut Saih, petang semalam.
AWANI Tonight: creating a more equitable healthcare system with AI
Can AI revolutionise healthcare and create a more equitable system? Astro AWANI Correspondent Farhana Sheikh delves into the critical issue reporting from the Red Hat Summit in Denver, Colorado.
Nama dikemuka sebagai calon Speaker Dewan Negara ramai - PM
Perdana Menteri berkata bagaimanapun setakat ini, senarai nama itu belum dibincangkan.
AWANI 7:45 [27/05/2024] – Banduan bukan peenghalang | Tiada kaitan dengan Menteri Belia Dan Sukan | Peguam dan SPRM masih berbincang | HAWANA 2024
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas #AWANI745 bersama Nickyson Nyambar
Tumpuan #AWANI745 malam ini:
- Dua sahabat dalam penjara, cemerlang keputusan SPM
- Bukan kesalahan suami Hannah Yeoh terima projek Selangor
- SPRM belum terima notis pengisytiharan harta anak bekas PM
- PM umum peruntukan dua juta ringgit untuk pengamal media
Saksikan #AWANI745 di saluran 501 Astro AWANI, Astro AWANI apps dan astroawani.com/live-tv
Tumpuan #AWANI745 malam ini:
- Dua sahabat dalam penjara, cemerlang keputusan SPM
- Bukan kesalahan suami Hannah Yeoh terima projek Selangor
- SPRM belum terima notis pengisytiharan harta anak bekas PM
- PM umum peruntukan dua juta ringgit untuk pengamal media
Saksikan #AWANI745 di saluran 501 Astro AWANI, Astro AWANI apps dan astroawani.com/live-tv
Djokovic tewas peringkat separuh akhir Tenis Terbuka Australia
Novak Djokovic tumpas kepada pemain Itali Jannik Sinner di peringkat separuh akhir kejohanan Terbuka Australia.
Tenis Terbuka Australia: Djokovic berang provokasi 'sang pengecut'!
Djokovic sedikit terusik dengan kata-kata nista yang seakan cuba untuk merapuhkan semangat berkobar-kobar juara 10 kali kejohanan itu.
Piala Davis: Jannik Sinner bantu Itali julang kejuaraan pertama sejak 1976
Pemain nombor empat dunia itu menewaskan Djokovic dan kemudiannya Alex De Minaur pada hari Ahad untuk meraih kemenangan 2-0.
Djokovic menang jelajah akhir ATP ketujuh di Itali
Novak Djokovic memenangi kejuaraan Jelajah Akhir ATP ketujuhnya dengan penuh bergaya, menewaskan pemain tuan rumah Jannik Sinner.
Sensasi gelaran Grand Slam ke-24 Djokovic
Pemain Serbia itu menewaskan Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3.
Tenis Terbuka AS: Daniil Medvedev kejutkan Carlos Alcaraz untuk ke final
Daniil Medvedev mencipta kejutan dalam Kejohanan Tenis Terbuka Amerika Syarikat apabila menumbangkan juara bertahan Carlos Alcaraz.
Terbuka AS: Novak Djokovic ke final singkir wakil muda tuan rumah
Djokovic hanya dibezakan satu lagi kemenangan untuk menjulang gelaran dalam kejohanan utama buat kali ke-24.
Tenis Terbuka Amerika Syarikat: Djokovic masih berbisa
Pemain sensasi, Novak Djokovic berada dalam kelas tersendiri mara ke pusingan ketiga Terbuka Amerika Syarikat (AS).
Terbuka AS: Djokovic catat kemenangan, teratas ranking dunia
Novak Djokovic menewaskan Alexandre Muller 6-0, 6-2, 6-3 ketika kembali ke Terbuka AS pada Isnin malam sekali gus berada di kedudukan teratas ranking dunia.
Kejohanan Wimbledon: Djokovic didenda gara-gara hempas raket ketika tewas aksi final
Novak Djokovic didenda sebanyak AS$8,000 (RM36,280) gara-gara menghempas raketnya ke tiang jaring sewaktu perlawanan final Kejohanan Tenis Wimbledon minggu lalu.