World no. 1 Jannik Sinner earned his fourth Masters 1000 title in Shanghai, extending his incredible season and securing the year-end no. 1 honor. Jannik faced the four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic in the title clash and earned a 7-6, 6-3 victory in an hour and 37 minutes.
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Thus, the Italian lifted the seventh trophy of the season and the 17th in a career, playing above everybody else and keeping his closest rivals miles behind. Jannik took down Novak for the fourth time in the previous five encounters, overcoming a 3-0 deficit against the most decorated player ever and locking their H2H score at 4-4.
Sinner claimed five points more than Djokovic, prevailing in the opener and delivering a single break in the second set that carried him through. The Italian did not face a break point in six sets against the finest returner in tennis history, keeping the pressure on the other side and delivering the Serb's first failure in the Shanghai Masters finals.
They were equally efficient behind the first serve, and Jannik played a bit better behind the second. The entire clash saw two break points in the fourth game of the second set.
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Novak gave everything to remain in contention and claim his 100th ATP title. However, he did not play well at the net and played that one loose service game that cost him dearly. The younger player took charge and attacked, landing 22 winners and 17 unforced errors while reducing the 24-time Major winner to a 12-18 ratio.
They played equally well from the baseline, and Jannik outplayed Novak at the net, taking all nine points after rushing forward and decreasing his rival to a mediocre 50%. They hit the same number of service winners, and Sinner still forged the advantage in the shortest range up to four strokes, attacking first and earning the victory in that segment.
They battled for nearly an hour in the opening set, and world no. 1 stepped in and grabbed the tie break for an early advantage.
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Jannik Sinner toppled Novak Djokovic after a rock-solid performance in Shanghai.
Djokovic grabbed 11 points on the return but could not turn them into something concrete, spraying errors in the tie break and falling behind.
The veteran grabbed the first game of the encounter with a service winner before missing a forehand in the next one, allowing his opponent to hold at 15 and lock the result at 1-1. Novak climbed back from 0-30 in the third game, landing a forehand winner and closing it with a powerful serve.
Jannik mirrored that in game four, bringing it home with an unreturned serve for 2-2. The four-time champion landed another service winner in the fifth game but stood powerless on the return in the next one, with world no. 1 landing an ace and locking them at 3-3.
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The 24-time Major winner produced another fine hold in the seventh game, taking it at love with a booming serve and hoping for chances on the return. Instead, the Italian held at 15 in the eighth game, following the rival's pace and increasing the drama.
The 37-year-old provided another hold at love in the ninth game, forging the fifth advantage and forcing his opponent to serve to stay in the set. Novak drew Jannik's mistake and took the opening two points, moving closer to stealing the opener and turning the tables.
However, Sinner felt no pressure, climbing to 30-30 with service winners and adding two more direct points for a comfortable hold and 5-5. Djokovic left that half-chance behind and delivered another hold at love in game 11 with an unreturned serve, seeking one last chance on the return in the next one.
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Instead, Jannik brought it home at 30 with a forced error and introduced a tie break. Novak went for a serve & volley in the first point, and world no. 1 passed him with a backhand down the line winner for a mini-break. The younger player hit an ace and drew the rival's mistake for a 3-0 advantage.
The Serb sprayed a forehand error in the fourth point, falling further behind and allowing his rival to gain a 5-1 lead.
Djokovic claimed the following two points before netting a routine volley at the net, offering Sinner three set points.
Jannik converted the second with a service winner, wrapping up the first part of the duel and moving closer to the top. Carried by this boost, the Italian served well in the second set, trusting his initial shot and waiting for a chance on the return.
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On the other hand, Novak lost the edge with his backhand, spraying too many errors and struggling in the shortest exchanges. The veteran fixed that a bit in the more extended ones, but it was not enough to endure until another tie break and extend his chances.
Sinner held at 30 in the first game and reached a deuce on the return in the next one after a deep return and Djokovic's backhand mistake. The veteran stayed focused and landed a rare groundstroke winner from his backhand to wrap up the game and level the score at 1-1.
Jannik attacked with his forehand in the third game and caused Novak's mistake for a 2-1 lead.
The Serb lost the opening two points in the fourth game before cracking a forehand down the line winner.
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The four-time champion rushed to the net and missed a volley, offering his rival the first break points of the match. Djokovic saved the first with an ace before Sinner cracked a forehand down the line winner, delivering a crucial break and moving 3-1 in front.
The Italian fired a forehand winner in the fifth game, cementing the lead and placing one hand on the trophy. Novak held in the sixth game with a service winner before playing a wild backhand in the next one, propelling Jannik 5-2 up and serving to stay in the match.
The four-time champion closed the eighth game at love with a powerful serve and wished for his first chances on the return in the next one. World no. 1 did not allow him any, landing a forehand drive-volley winner for two match points.
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Sinner seized the first with an ace, celebrating his fourth Masters 1000 title and extending the advantage over the rest of the field.
