Jannik Sinners season continues to be truly impressive. After winning six titles this year, including two Majors, the Italian ace also won the Shanghai Masters 1000 losing only one set during the tournament (in the third round against Tomas Martin Etcheverry). The World number 1 defeated Novak Djokovic in the final, proving to be unquestionably the best player in the world at this moment. The 23-year-old from Sesto Pusteria has had an exceptional consistency throughout the world, not conceding a break point to the 24-time Grand Slam champion and preventing him from winning the 100th title of his legendary career.
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The two-time Grand Slam champion - who is already certain to finish 2024 at the top of the ATP ranking - has improved in all respects over the past 12 months and the results have been a direct consequence of his progress. Jannik will be the player to beat in the coming years along with his great rival Carlos Alcaraz, who has very high levels but without the regularity of Sinner.
Sinner like Djokovic andFederer
The Italian champion had exceptional percentages with the servetoday and never allowed Nole to take the initiative of rallies. The first set tiebreak made a difference in the match economy, as Djokovics level dropped in the second set. Three official events separate the world number 1 from the end of his amazing season. Jannik will play the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000, the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November.
After the victory at the Australian Open, Rotterdam, Miami, Halle and Cincinnati came the triumph in Shanghai, after a virtually perfect match played against Novak Djokovic. A success without stories that certifies once again the level reached by the Italian tennis player, which on concrete does not seem to have rivals.
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On this very fast surface the Italianis showing an almost embarrassing supremacy. Jannik is the third player to win the AO and US Open, as well as more than 3 ATP Masters 1000 events on hard courts in a season, after Roger Federer (2006) and Novak Djokovic (2011, 15). The native of Val Pusteria is the youngest of these two phenomena to succeed in this amazing filotto.
Regarding the category 1000 tournaments, the 23-year-old is the first player to win three tournaments in the same season. The last to succeed in this feat was another extraterrestrial. In that season the Spaniard, who announced a few days ago his retirement from tennis, won even 5.
"Hi everyone. I want to first congratulate Novak for the incredible tennis played this week. Congratulations also to your team. I also know someone from your team (laughs). I wish you the best for this season finale and for the goals that you can still achieve in the future, even here in Shanghai next year. Thanks also to my team for the huge support. We are growing as a team day by day, it is great to be here with you. We are going back to Shanghai next year to try and defend the title," said Sinner in the interview after the match.
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A greatperformance
In Shanghai there was great expectation for the final against a legend of the caliber of Nole Djokovic but Sinner never found and adjusted the opponent without any particular problems, a 7-6;6-3 that leaves no doubt to rivals. In the first set, the Italian ace had only a moment of difficulty on 5-6 and 0-30 on his servebut he put four points in a row and then literally dominated the tiebreak. Few doubts during the match and just a curious episode that made people smile on social media.
At one point the former tennis player and Sky Sport Italy commentator Paolo Bertolucci noticed that Sinner turned to his team to point out a problem in the head. You dont understand what it is and Jannik doesnt even ask for a physiotherapist or medical timeout but from his box comes only a cloth that the Italianputs on his head for a few moments.
Nobody understands what happened but what is certain - in those moments of apprehension - even for the fans on TV is that Jannik does not suffer from it and from that moment he doesnt miss a shot. The blue is solid and gives show, winning a deserved victory this season. Merit who knows, as Bertolucci jokes, of a 'miraculous cloth' that certainly helped at least mentally the blue champion. Now Sinner will be back on the field soon, well see him again directly at the exhibition that will start in a few days in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
