Slam icon reveals scary thing now about Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka

At the start of the season, 23-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner became a Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open, making history as the first player to defeat Novak Djokovic at Melbourne Park since 2018. In the final, he showcased remarkable resilience by coming back from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev. Sinner’s success continued throughout the year, as he reached the world No. 1 ranking in June and added five more titles to his collection, including his second Major win at the US Open. With an impressive 2024 record of 55 wins and just 5 losses, he has established himself as a dominant force in the sport.

Similarly, Aryna Sabalenka had a standout year, successfully defending her Australian Open title without dropping a set and securing her third Grand Slam at the US Open. The Belarusian star is currently riding a 12-match winning streak, which began with her victory at the WTA 1000 tournament in Cincinnati before triumphing in New York. Sabalenka now has three Slam titles to her name and is known for her fierce determination on the court.

According to former eight-time Slam winner Jimmy Connors, both Sinner and Sabalenka have developed a “fear factor” that gives them a psychological edge over their opponents. Connors explained on the Advantage Connors podcast that their confidence and mental toughness make them difficult to defeat, as they push their opponents to the limit. “They have the game, the mentality, and that extra something that makes their opponents know they have to give everything to beat them,” he said.

Connors also reflected on Sabalenka’s journey, noting that last year she fell short in the US Open final against Coco Gauff, despite leading by a set. However, this season, the 26-year-old achieved the rare feat of winning two Grand Slam titles in one year. Connors believes Sabalenka has been more consistent than Iga Swiatek over the past two years, having reached four Major finals since the start of 2023.

Turning to Novak Djokovic, Connors issued a warning for the 37-year-old Serb. After finishing the season without a Slam title for the first time since 2017 and suffering a shocking third-round loss to Alexei Popyrin at the US Open, Connors noted that younger players, like Sinner and Alcaraz, sense vulnerability in Djokovic. Coming off the pressure of winning Olympic gold in Paris, Djokovic struggled to transition back to hard courts, giving his younger competitors the belief that they can beat him.