World no. 1 Jannik Sinner conquered his fourth Masters 1000 title in Shanghai. Jannik bested the four-time champion Novak Djokovic 7-6, 6-3 in the title clash, lifting his seventh ATP title of the season and the third at a Masters 1000 level.
ADVERTISEMENT
Thus, the Italian confirmed his year-end no. 1 status, playing miles above everyone else and leaving his closest rivals far behind. The veteran played well en route to his fifth Shanghai Masters final, seeking his 100th ATP title in front of the partisan Chinese crowd.
However, Novak will have to wait for another chase to achieve the milestone, losing a tight opener against the world's best player and suffering one break in set number two that sealed his fate. They stayed neck and neck in the opening set, with Novak playing better behind the second and Jannik behind the first serve.
The Serb grabbed 11 return points but could not cross the finish line first after a couple of costly errors in the tie break.
ADVERTISEMENT
Jannik Sinner outplayed Novak Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters final.
The servers faced no issues in 12 service games, keeping the returners away from deuces and break chances.
The Italian closed the sixth game with an ace, and the Serb responded with fine holds, holding at love at 3-3 and mirroring that in game nine. Jannik dropped the opening two points in the tenth game, sending Novak closer to the opener.
However, world no. 1 recovered and closed the game with a booming serve, locking the result at 5-5 and extending the battle. Sinner held at 30 in the 12th game, introducing a tie break and earning an early mini-break with a backhand down the line winner.
Djokovic missed a forehand in the fourth point, falling 4-0 behind before reducing the deficit to 5-3. The Serb netted a volley in the ninth point, offering his opponent three set points.
ADVERTISEMENT
Novak saved the first before Jannik converted the second at 6-4 with a booming serve, wrapping up the opener in 56 minutes and gaining a boost. Sinner provided five comfortable holds in the second set, keeping the pressure on his opponent.
Djokovic rushed to the net in the fourth game, losing serve and falling a set and a break behind. The young gun needed no second invitation to seal the deal from there, landing an ace at 5-3 to celebrate his fourth title at this level.
