Sinner, the unexpected twist has left everyone speechless.
Being number 1 in the world is no guarantee of success on all fronts. Or rather, it is in one’s area of expertise, but not in other areas, as is clear from the news that has leaked in recent hours. News that, by and large, left everyone stunned, if only because it was completely unexpected.
Archived the most memorable year – so far – of Jannik Sinner’s career, the Aips (the international sports press association) published the ritual ranking of 2024 sportsmen. And guess what? Despite the fact that the South Tyrolean champion has been dominating the men’s ranking unchallenged for more than 30 weeks now, contrary to expectations he failed to prevail in this ranking as well. Not only is his ranking not the best, but it also leaves us puzzled because it clashes, precisely, with all the hype around this world-loved figure.
The native of Innichen placed eighth in this ranking, far, therefore, not only from the summit itself, but also from the podium. Behind, as if that were not enough, other distinguished colleagues, first among them some of his most bitter opponents on the circuit. But let’s find out, now, who dominates the 2024 sportsman ranking published, in recent hours, by the Aips.
Sinner, resounding overtaking: nobody expected it
Let’s start by saying that the ranking in question is made, every year, based on the vote of hundreds of journalists, from the most diverse countries. This time, to be precise, 518 voted, on behalf of 111 different countries.
They all agreed that the sportsman who shone brightest in the year we left behind, and who deserved, therefore, the top spot, was Armand Duplantis, one of the brightest stars of the Paris Olympic Games. The king of athletics gained the first place and significantly detached all other athletes in the ranking.
In second place is Novak Djokovic, who continues to be one of the strongest sportsmen in every sense, including in terms of appeal. There is one more tennis player still in sixth place, but it is the Iberian champion Carlos Alcaraz, who in this case managed to get the better of his rival from Alto Adige. The Aips poll projected Sinner, as we mentioned earlier, to eighth place in this ranking. A somewhat disappointing result, to tell the truth, because it was little in line with the success of the world number 1.