The 2024 tennis season is coming to a close and the players are engaged in their last few matches before the off-season. Looking back at the season, it had a bit of everything. From Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz vying for the No. 1 spot to Rafael Nadal announcing his retirement, the fans went through a roller coaster! Add to that Nick Kyrgios’s presence on social media and in the commentary box. The Aussie has certainly not been shy to share his thoughts this year!

After a year away from the court, the Aussie has taken on a new role as a commentator. He has faced a series of injuries, including significant issues with his wrist and knee, which have kept him sidelined since mid-2023. Despite this setback, he has remained connected to tennis through his sharp wit and straightforward opinions, although not always pleasant for all. Kyrgios was in the commentary box at major events like the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open this year while actively sharing his thoughts on social media.

During an interview with Louis Theroux on October 29, Kyrgios expressed his concerns about the future of tennis. When asked if he believed the sport could become “endangered,” he replied that he didn’t think that would happen. However, he noted that while fans can easily name the four Grand Slams, very few are aware of the other Masters Titles or exhibitions throughout the year. He emphasized that “tennis needs to do such a better job of marketing our sport and ensuring there are tournaments every single week of the year.”

Kyrgios believes that the Grand Slams will always hold significance. “Wimbledon for me is the Holy Grail of sport,” he stated. As long as these prestigious events remain publicized, he feels tennis will continue to thrive. However, he pointed out that attendance at tennis events lags behind sports like the APL and NBA, where arenas are consistently full.

One might recall seeing empty seats during matches at this year’s Wimbledon, particularly during the match between Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev. It was the same two years ago, during the 2022 Wimbledon match between Caroline Garcia and Emma Raducanu, where empty seats were also visible and BBC presenter and former tennis pro, Sue Barker noted, “There are lots of empty seats” at the start of Raducanu’s match.

Kyrgios is of the view that tennis will take a real hit when each one of the Big 3 bids adieu to the sport. “But the marketing and the players that we we’ve had, I mean, someone as yourself, you would have seen Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, Andy Murray, like these guys were legends of our sport that have carried our sport for 30 years. And once they go, it’s going to take a big hit, I think,” the Aussie said.

Despite these challenges, there is a silver lining in the current roster of players. The legends—Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray—have become synonymous with tennis and have carried the sport for decades. But with Rafa retiring this month, it leaves only Nole as the last-standing legend to bring in the masses. This raises an important question: once they retire, what will attract fans?

Could Jannik Sinner be the future of the sport?

In October, Boris Becker declared in La Gazzetta dello Sport that “We can define Sinner and Alcaraz as the Djokovic and Federer of the future.” He praised Alcaraz’s shot-disguising skills, reminiscent of Federer’s tactical finesse. As Becker phrased it, “From a purely stylistic point of view, the Spaniard can be compared to Federer and the Italian to Djokovic.”

Even former Italian legend, Adriano Panatta praised Sinner as the sport’s top player, noting his remarkable 67 wins out of 73 matches this season. He remarked, “Everyone knows how to beat Sinner… but in the end, no one succeeds.” Goran Ivanisevic echoed this sentiment, stating, “When they are both at their best, I feel that Sinner is better.” Andre Agassi also lauded Sinner’s skill and humility, saying, “Jannik does it with a level of perfection that I always sought.”

As Sinner prepares for the semifinals in Turin, he seems poised to extend his winning streak. With his remarkable form and strategic awareness, many are eager to see if he will rise as the next tennis legend. Will he secure his place in history? Share your thoughts in the comments below!