Jannik Sinner beats Novak Djokovic to win Shanghai Masters
Novak Djokovic missed the chance to win the 100th title of his career as Italy’s Jannik Sinner claimed victory in the Shanghai Masters final.
Sinner, the 23-year-old world number one, continued his excellent form this year with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 win over the 37-year-old Djokovic.
Djokovic was aiming to join tennis legends Jimmy Connors (109 titles) and Roger Federer (103 titles) by reaching 100 career titles.
“I’ll keep working to make it happen soon,” said Djokovic, who has won 24 Grand Slam titles. His only major win this year was the Olympic gold medal, which had previously escaped him.
“It’s not an all-or-nothing goal for me. I’ve already achieved my biggest dreams in tennis. Now, it’s about focusing on Grand Slams and seeing how far I can push myself,” he added.
Sinner’s victory adds to his impressive 2024 season, where he has now won seven titles, including the Australian Open and US Open. The Italian star has won 65 of his 71 matches this year.
Djokovic still hoped to show younger players he could compete at the highest level, but key mistakes at crucial points allowed Sinner to take control of the final.
Despite the loss, Djokovic felt positive about his performance. “I played well, and it shows I can still compete with the best in the world,” he said.
Sinner has now beaten Djokovic three times in a row, a sign of how the younger generation, including Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, is starting to take over.
“It’s hard to say how to beat Djokovic because he has no real weaknesses,” Sinner admitted. “You just have to take advantage of the small chances he gives you. He’s a legend, and it’s always tough playing against him.”
The first set was tightly contested, with neither player able to break the other’s serve. The tie-break, however, saw Sinner race into a 4-0 lead. Djokovic tried to fight back but missed key shots, giving Sinner the first set.
Both players had the same number of points (73) in the opening set, showing how close the contest was.
In the second set, Djokovic missed another important volley, giving Sinner his first break point. Sinner seized the moment with a powerful forehand winner to break Djokovic’s serve.
From there, Sinner remained solid, not giving Djokovic any chances to come back, and served out the match to win his first Shanghai Masters title.
