Daniil Medvedev joins Jimmy Connors in undesirable top-5 achievement

Daniil Medvedev will wrap up the 2024 season in the top-5 for the fifth time in the last six years. However, the Russian’s achievement is even more remarkable considering he has done so without winning a single ATP title this season. This is a feat that no one, including Medvedev himself, could have anticipated at the beginning of the year. With multiple close calls throughout the season and a slew of near-misses, Medvedev finds himself as the first year-end top-5 player in over three decades to finish a season without a title. The last player to achieve such a feat was American tennis legend Jimmy Connors, who finished the 1987 season in the top-5 without winning a single ATP trophy.

Medvedev’s failure to secure a title this season despite his consistent performances is reminiscent of Connors’ 1987 season, marking the first time in 37 years that a top-5 player has been titleless. The comparison between Medvedev and Connors is intriguing, as both players had stellar seasons in terms of consistency but ultimately fell short in the decisive moments. This shared experience of coming so close but failing to clinch the title underscores the fragility of top-level tennis and the difficulty in breaking through in high-pressure moments.

Jimmy Connors’ 1987 Run: A Case of Consistency Without Glory

In 1987, at the age of 35, Connors had one of his most consistent seasons, finishing inside the ATP top-5. He played a remarkable 71 matches, winning 52 and losing 19, yet somehow found himself unable to secure a single title. This made him the first player to finish in the top-5 without a title since the ATP rankings were established. Connors reached three finals that year, and he made it to seven more semi-finals, showing that his level of play remained at an elite standard. However, despite his impressive performances, he failed to take that final step and lift a trophy.

Connors’ season began in February, where he reached the final in Philadelphia, only to retire against Stefan Edberg in the second set. He followed this with another final in Memphis but was forced to withdraw due to injury. Despite these setbacks, Connors was still able to put together an impressive series of performances at some of the game’s most prestigious events. He reached the semi-finals of the strong Key Biscayne tournament in Miami, where he defeated several top-tier opponents before falling to Ivan Lendl. Connors also made it to the final in Orlando but lost to Christo Van Rensburg in three sets, and while he had a strong run at Wimbledon, he was eliminated by Pat Cash in the semi-finals.

However, his biggest struggles came in the majors, where Connors repeatedly fell short against his top rivals. He lost to Lendl in the semi-finals of both Washington and Montreal, and once again, he was denied in the US Open semi-finals, failing to take a set off of Lendl. Despite all of this, Connors remained a fixture in the upper echelons of the ATP rankings, ultimately finishing the year in the top-5. But the lack of a title in 1987 marked the end of his career-long streak of ATP titles, a record that had started in 1972.

Medvedev’s Close-But-Not-Enough Season

Fast forward to 2024, and Daniil Medvedev finds himself in a similar position to Connors, with a highly consistent season but no titles to show for his efforts. Medvedev’s 2024 campaign saw him compiling a solid 46-21 win-loss record, including six victories over top-10 opponents. He reached two finals early in the season, but despite his consistent efforts, he could not close the deal in the crucial matches.

The season began with high hopes for Medvedev, especially after he made it to the final of the Australian Open in January. In a match against Jannik Sinner, Medvedev looked to be in control, taking a two-set lead. However, much like his heartbreaking loss to Rafael Nadal in the 2022 Australian Open final, Medvedev was unable to hold onto his advantage. Sinner mounted a remarkable comeback, and Medvedev ultimately fell in five sets. This loss set the tone for a season filled with near-misses.

Medvedev’s year continued with another disappointing final at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where he lost in straight sets to Andrey Rublev. However, the Russian bounced back at Indian Wells, making it to his second final of the year. In that final, he faced Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated him in straight sets to claim the title. Medvedev showed glimpses of his best form throughout the season, reaching the semi-finals at Miami and Wimbledon, but he consistently fell short when it mattered most.

Medvedev’s clay-court season was less impressive, with a lone quarter-final appearance in Madrid and early exits at Rome and Roland Garros. However, he made a strong return on grass, where he reached the Wimbledon semi-finals, defeating two top-10 players along the way, including Sinner in a thrilling five-set encounter. Unfortunately, Medvedev’s hopes of clinching the Wimbledon title were dashed by Alcaraz in the semi-finals, who ultimately went on to win the tournament.

The second half of Medvedev’s season continued with a series of frustrating losses in key matches. Despite a strong performance at the US Open, where he reached the quarter-finals, Medvedev was ousted by Sinner in another four-set defeat. The Russian also experienced disappointing results at the Laver Cup, where he lost both of his matches, and at the Beijing and Shanghai Masters, where he was defeated by Alcaraz and Sinner, respectively.

Medvedev’s season ended with a string of defeats, as he lost to Alexei Popyrin at the Paris Masters and suffered two losses at the ATP Finals. In total, Medvedev finished the year with four defeats in his final five matches, marking the first season since 2017 in which he failed to claim an ATP title.

Medvedev’s Future: A Year of Promise, A Year of Frustration

While the lack of a title in 2024 will undoubtedly be a source of frustration for Daniil Medvedev, his ability to remain in the top-5 despite these setbacks speaks volumes about his consistency and resilience. Much like Jimmy Connors in 1987, Medvedev has shown that even without winning titles, it is possible to compete at the highest level throughout an entire season. His near-misses in the finals, particularly at the Australian Open and Indian Wells, demonstrate that he is still capable of challenging for major titles in the future.

Despite this, Medvedev will be eager to put his titleless season behind him and focus on returning to the winner’s circle in 2025. His consistency throughout 2024 suggests that when the right opportunity presents itself, he will be able to capitalize and claim that elusive title. For now, though, Medvedev’s 2024 campaign will be remembered as one of immense promise, where the Russian came close on multiple occasions but ultimately fell just short. As he looks ahead, Medvedev will surely be determined to turn his near-misses into triumphs in the years to come.

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