The 2024 tennis season was filled with noteworthy stories, breakthrough moments, and countless trophy lifts. But what were the best matches of the year that was?
We rolled the tape, and this week, TENNIS.com counted down some of the best WTA matches of the past year (after counting down our WTA picks last week). Our countdown concludes with our overall Top 5 matches of the year. These matches, each for their own reasons, thrilled and entertained, and played an integral part in the year’s overall narrative.
5. Taylor Fritz def. Alexander Zverev, ATP Finals SF
The rivalry between Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev transcended surface, tournament and round in 2024, but one thing was consistent: The American winning the majority of the time. But despite a five-setter at Wimbledon, that was dramatic on and off the court, and another four-setter at the US Open, the best match of the bunch came at the year’s final tournament.
The 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(3) win for Fritz helped him become the first American since 2006 to reach the singles final at the ATP’s year-end championships.
The pair’s battle in Turin was a serving display, with only two breaks in the entire match—one in the first set for Fritz, and likewise one in the second set for Zverev.
Both players faced break points in the third set, Fritz saving three at 2-all, then Zverev three at 3-4, then Fritz another two at 5-all. But in the end it all came down to one tiebreak, and it was the American who struck first, grabbing a mini-break for a 2-0 lead and never letting go of that lead, eventually unleashing one last inside-out forehand winner on his first match point to seal the victory after two hours and 21 minutes on court.
