Jannik Sinner wins the Shanghai Masters 1000 and deprives Novak Djokovic of a hundredth title

The Italian won in two sets on Sunday (7-6).[4]6-3), confirming his domination in 2024, which he is sure to finish in first place in the world.

He seems to have found the recipe. Jannik Sinner dominated Novak Djokovic in the final of the Shanghai tournament, Sunday October 13, in straight sets (7-6[4]6-3) and 1h37 of play. A third consecutive victory for the Italian over the Serbian after having defeated him in the Davis Cup at the end of the previous season (6-2, 2-6, 7-5) and in semi-finals of the Australian Open at the start of the season (6-1, 6-2, 6-7[6]6-3), yet garden of “Nole”. With this prestigious victory, the world number 1 establishes his domination and his insolent success in the final.

Ten days after his defeat in the Beijing final against Carlos Alcaraz, the first at this stage of the competition in 2024 for him after six titles won, Jannik Sinner bounced back perfectly in Shanghai to collect his 17th career title, the fifth in Masters 1000. A total acquired in 22 finals and therefore only five defeats in these decisive matches on the ATP circuit, including one during the only clash at this stage against Novak Djokovic (6-3, 6-3 at the 2023 Masters in Turin).

The Italian at the time still lacked confidence against the Serbian, still world number 1 at that time, whom he had only beaten once in four matches, a few days earlier in the group stage of the same Masters. Since then, the trend has reversed and Jannik Sinner has won all the duels that took place between the two players. In Shanghai, he even had the luxury for the first time in his career of beating the four-time winner of the tournament without dropping a single set, a sign of the reversal of the balance of power.

“It’s hard to talk about secrets [pour le battre]he doesn’t have many weaknesses. You have to seize the few opportunities it leaves you and believe at every moment that you can win.”said the winner of the Australian Open and the US Open this year on the court. The ingredients that the Italian put in are, however, rather clear with a victory first built thanks to the solidity of his serve which allowed him not to concede any break points. Conqueror, Sinner managed 22 winning shots, including eight aces, against a Djokovic who was too clumsy in his climbs to the net, particularly in the tie-break (5/11).“Too good, too strong, too fast”summed up the Serbian when receiving his finalist trophy.

In the notable presence of Roger Federer, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Carlos Alcaraz who did not want to miss this summit, the record holder for Grand Slam and Masters 1000 titles missed the opportunity to fill his trophy cabinet with a hundredth coronation in singles on the ATP circuit, a few weeks after his Olympic title. He should have the opportunity at Bercy, then at the Masters for which he is not yet assured of qualification, but has traveled part of the way to China.