What’s everyone’s predictions for 2024? Be it small-scale tactical changes or large-scale predictions about players’ results for the year.
Some predictions for 2024:
Alcaraz will win RG. I have a feeling that he’ll be learning as much as he can from the matches he’s played against Djokovic this year, and I think he’ll put a lot of effort into tightening up his running FH and his BH generally. It’ll be interesting to see if he’ll attempt any mechanical tweaks to the BH side either this off-season or during the 2024 season.
Sinner will not win a Major or contest a Major final next year. His performance the last couple months has been spectacular to watch, but I cannot see him taking AO, RG, Wimbledon, or the USO off of Djokovic, Alcaraz, or Medvedev. Chances are he’ll encounter one of them (or a still-improving Zverev) in the SFs, and I would argue that his recent performances on indoor hard won’t translate cleanly to outdoor hard, or clay/grass. Djokovic/Med are too durable in rallies and will win on percentages if Sinner can’t continuously and reliably attack, and imo Alcaraz is too dynamically aggressive for Sinner’s defense to handle and dismantle for 5 sets.
I’ll make Alcaraz predictions.
Alcaraz shows up with an elite serve and improved backhand, hits a bit flatter, which compels him to have a better indoor season.
As for the rest of his season, it should go like how it has the last two years. Dominance in some tournaments, surprise early exit in either MC or Rome, supersolid Sunshine Doubles, good enough NA Swing. Better fatigue management after Olympics.
As for Slam performances, I have no clue how he’ll do at AO, from an eye test after rewatching some of his AO 2022 matches, he should be lethal on the surface. I don’t think his fans should be worried about his form there, what you should be worried about is that it’s going to be super tough for him to beat Sinner or Novak there, but not impossible. Roland Garros, he should win. It’s crazy he hasn’t won it yet. I know people seem to think he prefers quicker clay surfaces, but he’s equally as good on slower ones. So, so many weapons for clay, I would be surprised if he’s not the one who wins RG. Wimbledon, well, he should be a Top 2 contender, because oddly enough, if his serve and returns are anything like last year, he’ll be very difficult to beat, but I still have a feel Novak takes Wimby next year, so let’s see. USO, it’s always hard to predict, I hope he keeps his SF streak at slams going.
AO remains the only early exit scare for him, because of the nature of Slams, Alcaraz should still go deep consistently, because his minor inconsistencies in a match is more forgiven in a Bo5 format, and I am hoping he works on his weaknesses this offseason, next year will be interesting for his growth.
I mean Djokovic has mostly just lost to Nadal in Roland Garros so without Nadal he’s just as much of a favorite