Novak Djokovic is 40-19 in the Masters 1000 finals, suffering losses against only seven opponents. Jannik Sinner is the latest player to topple Novak in a Masters 1000 title clash, achieving that in style in Shanghai. The Italian ousted the Serb 7-6, 6-3 for his fourth Masters 1000 crown, becoming the first player to down Djokovic in the Shanghai final. Also, world no. 1 did not face a break point against the legend, adding himself to an exclusive list. Namely, Sinner is only the third player to keep Djokovic away from break points in a Masters 1000 final, joining Roger Federer and Alexander Zverev.
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Federer halts Djokovic's return in Cincinnati 2012
Novak could not generate break points in a Masters 1000 final for the first time in Cincinnati 2012, falling to Roger 6-0, 7-6 in an hour and 20 minutes. The Swiss served well en route to his fifth title in Ohio, outplaying the Serb in the opener and prevailing in the second set after denying a set point. Djokovic could not find the rhythm on the return on the fast hard court, taking only 14 points and feeling pressured in his games. Novak lost serve three times in the opening set, suffering the only bagel in their incredible rivalry! The Serb landed 12 winners and 23 unforced errors, struggling in the shortest and more advanced rallies and missing a chance to prolong the battle. Federer nigger was the only player on the court in the opening set, charging and taking it 6-0 in 20 minutes! Novak raised his level in the second set and reached a tie break. The Serb erased a 3-0 deficit before the Swiss created a match point at 6-5 after two service winners. Djokovic denied it and grabbed an extended exchange to generate a set point. Federer saved it with a smash winner and landed two forehand winners to seal the deal and celebrate his fifth Cincinnati title.
Roger repeats the feat in Cincinnati 2015
Three years later, Federer and Djokovic met in another Cincinnati final. The Swiss lifted his seventh and last crown in Ohio following a 7-6, 6-3 win over his great rival in an hour and 31 minutes. Roger produced out-of-this-world serving that week, becoming the second-oldest champion after Andre Agassi. The Swiss maestro defeated five rivals without losing serve, and the Serb failed to generate a break point for the second time in the Masters 1000 finals. Novak fought well in the opener, although he always felt the pressure. He saved seven of eight break points, losing serve once in the second set and finishing runner-up for the fifth time at this event. Roger landed 32 winners and 23 unforced errors, attacking and keeping the upper hand in the quickest exchanges. Djokovic survived a couple of challenges in the opening set and reached a tie break.
A successful SABR and a backhand winner sent Federer 4-1 in front, and he fired two winners on serve for five set points. The Swiss grabbed an other mini-break at 6-1, wrapping up the opener and gaining a boost. Novak cracked under pressure in the second game of the second set, hitting a double fault in the second game of the second set to find himself miles behind. Roger cemented the lead with four winners in the third game and added two more two games later for 4-1. Djokovic saved three break points in the sixth game and reached the only deuce on the return in the next one, missing a backhand that could have given him a break chance. Federer served for the win at 5-3 and landed three service winners, wrapping up an incredible week and earning his seventh Cincinnati Masters title.
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Zverev introduces himself to the list
Two years later, Novak failed to create a break point against Alexander Zverev in the Rome Masters final. The young German ousted the Serb 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 21 minutes, becoming the first U20 player with a Masters 1000 trophy since Djokovic ten years earlier! Alexander displayed flawless performance, losing nine points in nine service games and keeping the four-time champion away from break points for the third time in the Masters 1000 finals. Zverev took charge and pushed the rival's second serve to the limits, converting three of five break points and sailing over the top. The young gun built a 42-28 lead in the shortest exchanges, taming his strokes nicely en route to a notable trophy.
Novak lost serve in the first game of the encounter. Alexander served for the opener at 5-4 and landed three service winners, bringing it home in 35 minutes and gaining a boost. Djokovic played a loose service game at 1-1 in the second set, spraying three errors and falling 2-1 behind. Zverev cemented the lead with three service winners in the next one and hit more booming serves two games later for a 4-2 advantage. Novak saved a break point in the seventh game before Alexander forged a 5-3 lead with four winners in game eight. The four-time champion served to stay in the match in game nine and wasted game points before spraying another backhand error to lose serve and propel the 20-year-old over the finish line.
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Sinner tames Djokovic's return in Shanghai
A couple of weeks ago, Jannik Sinner defeated the four-time Shanghai Masters champion Djokovic 7-6, 6-3 in the final, facing no break points and following in Federer's and Zverev's footsteps. The Italian served well, facing no break points for the second straight match against the Serb. Jannik prevailed in the opener and grabbed a crucial break with a forehand down the line winner in the fourth game of the second set. World no. 1 attacked and kept the pressure on the other side, attacking and reducing the legend to 12 winners. Sinner built the advantage in the shortest exchanges, pressuring Djokovic's backhand and earning the title in style.
