Jannik Sinner can become the 12th man to reach the finals at both hard-court Grand Slams in the same season at the 2024 US Open. Sinner won his maiden major title at the Australian Open in January, where he came back from two sets to love down to beat Daniil Medvedev in his first Grand Slam final.

The US Open has been played on hard courts since moving to Flushing Meadows in 1978, while the Australian Open switched from grass to hard courts when it moved to Melbourne Park in 1988. Here, we look at the 11 players who have reached the finals at both hard-court majors in men’s singles since 1988.

The Pioneers: Mats Wilander and Ivan Lendl

Mats Wilander won both the Australian Open and the US Open in the first year both tournaments were staged on hard courts in 1988. The Swede defeated Pat Cash in the final in Melbourne and Ivan Lendl in the title match in New York — both in five sets.

Ivan Lendl saw off Miroslav Mecir in straight sets to win the Australian Open in 1989 and he also reached the US Open final later that year. At Flushing Meadows, the Czech was beaten in four sets by Boris Becker.

A Trio of Champions: Edberg, Agassi, and Sampras

Stefan Edberg was a runner-up at the 1992 Australian Open, where he lost to Jim Courier in four sets in the championship match. The Swede then secured the US Open crown in the same season, beating Pete Sampras in four sets in the final.

Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras faced off in the finals at both the hard-court Grand Slam tournaments in 1995. Agassi defeated Sampras in four sets in the final at the Australian Open to triumph on his debut at the Melbourne major. Sampras earned his revenge at the 1995 US Open, where he downed his rival and compatriot in four sets.

The Rise of Federer and Djokovic

Roger Federer claimed both of the hard-court major crowns in 2004, beating Marat Safin in the Australian Open final and Lleyton Hewitt in the US Open final. The Swiss repeated the feat in 2006 with title match wins over Marcos Baghdatis and Andy Roddick, before doing the double for the third time in 2007, when he overcame Fernando Gonzalez and Djokovic in the finals.

In 2009, Federer joined Chang by losing both the Australian Open and US Open finals in the same season with defeats to Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro in the respective title matches.

Djokovic won the Australian Open and the US Open in 2011 with victories over Andy Murray and Nadal in the finals. He defended his Australian Open crown in 2012 by seeing off Nadal, before losing to Murray in the US Open title match. The Serb contested both finals again in 2013, beating Murray in Melbourne and falling to Nadal in New York. In 2015, Djokovic secured both hard-court majors, downing Murray in Australia and Federer in the United States.

Djokovic beat Murray again in 2016 to defend his Australian Open title, before losing his US Open crown in a championship match loss to Stan Wawrinka later that year. In 2023, Djokovic saw off Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Australian Open final and Medvedev in the US Open final to complete the hard-court double for a record-equalling third time — matching Federer.

Nadal's Dominance

Nadal reached both the Australian Open and the US Open finals in 2017 and 2019, and on both occasions he lost in Melbourne and triumphed in New York. The Spaniard lost to Federer (2017) and Djokovic (2019) in the Australian Open title matches, while he beat Kevin Anderson (2017) and Medvedev (2019) at the US Open.

The Next Generation

In 2020, Dominic Thiem was a runner-up at the Australian Open, where he lost to Djokovic in five sets. Later that year, the Austrian edged out Alexander Zverev in a five-set US Open championship match to secure his only Grand Slam title.

In 2021, Medvedev and Djokovic met in the finals at both hard-court majors and the duo each left with a trophy from the two straight-set finals. Djokovic eased past Medvedev in the Australian Open title match, before the Russian returned the favour with a convincing US Open victory that denied the Serbian a Calendar Slam.

Sinner's Chance to Make History

If Medvedev reaches the US Open final, he will become just the fourth player to achieve the feat multiple times after Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal. Sinner's potential to join this elite club is a testament to his rising star power. With his recent Australian Open triumph and consistent performances on hard courts, Sinner has the potential to make history and etch his name alongside these tennis titans.

The US Open is set to be a captivating spectacle, as Sinner seeks to become the 12th man to achieve this coveted feat. The tennis world will be watching with bated breath as Sinner vies for a place among the greatest hard-court players of all time. The tournament promises to be a battle of grit, skill, and determination, as Sinner seeks to make his mark on history.

The Legacy of Hard-Court Champions

The list of players who have reached the finals of both the Australian Open and the US Open in the same year is a testament to the enduring legacy of these two prestigious tournaments. Each player on this list has contributed to the rich tapestry of tennis history, demonstrating their exceptional talent, resilience, and dedication to the sport. Their accomplishments continue to inspire aspiring tennis players worldwide, reminding them that anything is possible with hard work, determination, and a passion for the game.

The upcoming US Open is sure to be an exciting and memorable event, as Sinner attempts to join this elite group of champions. The world will be watching with anticipation as he seeks to make history and etch his name among the greatest hard-court players of all time.