Top 3 most viral ATP moments of the 2024 season

Former World No.1 Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal steal spots among the top 3 most viral ATP moments in the 2024 season.

Top 3 most viral ATP moments of the 2024 season

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal (Image via Sky Sports)

The 2024 ATP season will largely be remembered for the emergence of a new generation of players that swept aside the old generation. It will also be known as the year in which several legends decide to hang their racquet. From Andy Murray to Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem, bid goodbye to the sport.

However, there was a lot of drama on and off the court that became viral moments on social media, and some even caused tears among some fans. Here we will take a look at the top 3 ATP viral moments in the 2024 season.

YouTube video

3) Andrey Rublev almost lost his “b*lls”

Rublev is widely known for his fiery demeanor on the court and sometimes lets his anger get the best of him. During the US Open, the Russian match against Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round, he suffered a very serious medical scare that he had to keep private. It was not until October at the Stockholm Open, that he opened up about the same.

FS Video

He told the reporters that during the match against Dimitrov he felt pain in one of his testicles. He was rushed to the hospital immediately after his loss and the doctor told him he had five or six hours before the blood stopped flowing. He had narrowly avoided amputation.

He said: “I’m lucky, and everything is great.” That is simply one of the wildest things that can happen to a player after a difficult Grand Slam loss. However, after the surgery, the 27-year-old had to miss the entirety of the Asian swing.

RELATED
Top 3 best WTA comeback wins in 2024
Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek

2) Rafael Nadal’s retirement announcement and final career match

The tennis world was taken by surprise after Nadal announced he would retire from the sport at the Davis Cup Finals in November. The 10th of October will always be remembered for the announcement. He revealed via a video on his social media handles that it was difficult to come to terms with the decision. Several legends, coaches, and athletes, including Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Jose Mourinho, paid tributes to the Spaniard.

On 19 November, Nadal played his final career match representing Spain at the Davis Cup Finals. He opened the quarterfinal tie between Spain and Netherlands, losing to Botic van de Zandschulp in straight sets. The defeat eventually saw the Netherlands earn a 2-1 win over Nadal’s Spain.

Rafael Nadal
Rafael Nadal (via X)

Nonetheless, Nadal retired having won 92 tour-level titles, including 22 Grand Slam titles. He spent 209 weeks at World No.1. He remains one of the leading lights in the ATP since turning pro in 2001.

RELATED
Top 3 most viral WTA moments of the 2024 season
Coco Gauff and Barbora Krejcikova (via Forbes/WTA) Viral WTA moments

1) Novak Djokovic claims maiden Olympic gold

Djokovic had tried on three occasions to win the Olympic gold medal but failed to do so. Ahead of the Paris Summer Games, the 37-year-old was not among the favorites to win the medal after a poor run on Tour. But, he did the impossible at the Roland Garros court. The Serbian won all his matches without dropping a set and defeated Carlos Alcaraz 7-6 (3), 7-6 (2) to win the gold medal in men’s tennis singles.

Viral ATP moments
Novak Djokovic (via Forbes)

The former World No.1 was completely overwhelmed as he collapsed on the Philippe-Chatrier court after the match. He ran to his family in the stands and kissed his daughter Tara. At 37, he became the oldest player in history to win an Olympic gold medal in singles. Not only that he also became the fifth player in tennis history to complete the Golden Slam (winning all four majors and a gold medal at the Olympics).