Jannik Sinner is a player to beat at a Masters 1000 series this year, lifting three trophies. The young Italian conquered back-to-back crowns in Cincinnati and Shanghai, becoming the first player with consecutive Masters 1000 titles after Novak Djokovic in 2020!
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Four years ago, the most decorated player at this level lifted trophies in New York (Cincinnati) and Rome, and it took four years for someone to follow that achievement. Djokovic, Federer and Nadal have dominated the events at the Masters 1000 level for 15 years, and things changed in 2021.
Novak switched his focus to Majors, Roger retired and Rafa experienced setbacks with injuries. Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have been the most successful players at premium ATP events in the previous years, and they wish for more in the upcoming seasons.
The Italian reached the Cincinnati Masters final over Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev, arranging the clash against Frances Tiafoe.
World no. 1 earned a 7-6, 6-2 victory in an hour and 36 minutes, prevailing in the opener and breaking the rival's resistance in set number two.
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Jannik lost 11 points behind the initial shot, defending three break points in the opener and securing a couple of breaks in set number two to seal the deal in style. The Italian fired nearly 30 service winners and tamed his strokes nicely, finishing with 29 winners and 24 unforced errors.
Sinner saved two break points in the opening game of the encounter and another at 4-4. Tiafoe faced a set point in the 12th game, denying it with a service winner and introducing a tie break. The home player sprayed a forehand mistake in the tenth point, facing two set points and missing a backhand on the first to propel Jannik in front after 55 minutes.
With a boost on his side, Sinner clinched a break in the first game of the second set and produced two fine holds for 3-1. The Italian delivered another break in the fifth game after a forehand down the line winner, putting one hand on the trophy.
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Jannik Sinner is on a Masters 1000 winning streak.
World no. 1 held at love for 5-1 and generated three match points on the return in the next one. Frances denied them and held, extending the battle before Jannik sealed the deal with a service winner at 5-2, celebrating his first Cincinnati title.
Not stopping there, the Italian lifted another trophy in Shanghai, ousting six opponents and adding the fifth notable hard-court title to his 2024 tally. He kicked off the action against Taro Daniel before losing the opener versus Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
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The world's best player took charge and claimed the remaining ten sets of the tournament, conquering his fourth Masters 1000 title in style. Sinner ousted Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev and Tomas Machac en route to the final, avoiding Carlos Alcaraz and arranging the clash with Novak Djokovic, their first since the Australian Open.
The younger player defeated the veteran and the four-time champion 7-6, 6-3 in an hour and 37 minutes, lifting his fourth Masters 1000 trophy and the second in a row.
The Italian extended his great run over the Serb, beating him for the fourth time in the previous five duels, all on hard courts, and leveling their H2H to 4-4.
It was a tight battle, with Jannik winning five points more than Novak. World no. 1 prevailed in the opener after a solid performance in the tie break and clinched a single break in the middle of the second set to emerge at the top.
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Like in Melbourne, Sinner did not allow Djokovic a break point, extending that impressive streak to six sets! Thus, the 24-time Major winner felt the pressure and lost the crucial points. He sprayed errors in the tie break and played one loose service game in set number two, experiencing his first defeat in the Shanghai Masters finals.
Jannik played a bit better behind the second serve, although we saw two break points in the entire clash, with little separating the two rivals.
The Italian landed 22 winners and 17 unforced errors, taming his strokes nicely and reducing the legend to 12 direct points and 18 mistakes.
The younger player performed flawlessly at the net, which was not the case with the veteran, especially in the tie break. They were equally efficient from the baseline and hit the same number of service winners. However, Sinner outplayed Djokovic in the shortest range up to four strokes, especially in the second set.
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World no. 1 attacked first and welcomed backhand errors from his opponent in set number two. Jannik will seek his third straight Masters 1000 title in Paris. Achieving that, he would become the first player to accomplish that feat since Novak in 2019 and 2020.
