Heading for the Masters - Sinner's crowning moment?

Jannik Sinner was the best tennis player of 2024.

The undisputed number 1 in the world, the Transalpine currently holds a 3615-point ATP lead over his nearest challenger (Alexander Zverev).

Equally impressive, Sinner played 71 matches on the ATP circuit this season, across 14 different tournaments, for a record of 65 wins, 7 titles and 8 finals.

In short, the Italian's domination of the circuit is total, and in the end, only Carlos Alcaraz stood up to him.

An obvious favourite for the Masters at the end of the year, the 23-year-old right-hander will arrive in Turin with obvious title ambitions.

Last year's runner-up, he will be determined to give his country the first Masters title in its history.

Indeed, no Italian has ever won the Masters tournament. Worse still, no Transalpine had even managed to reach the semi-finals of the event before Sinner reached the final last year.

In front of an enthusiastic home crowd, the world number 1 will have no room for error: a whole nation is waiting for him.

So, while almost no-one would dare to bet on the San Candido native underperforming, the pressure will be immense and some of his rivals may well manage to surprise him.

So, will this season's King of Kings get the coronation he so richly deserves?

The answer begins this Sunday.