(Shanghai) Jannik Sinner, unfazed despite the doping affair in which he is entangled, consolidated his place as world No.1 by dominating Novak Djokovic in the final of the Shanghai Masters 1000, 7-6 (7/4), 6 -3, Sunday.
The Italian, under threat of suspension for having tested positive for a steroid, confirmed his superiority over the last few months over the Serbian. It was their fourth victory in their last five matches, and the second of the season after the semi-final of the Australian Open in January.
In Melbourne, Sinner, 23, won his first Grand Slam trophy. Since then, he has established himself as one of the two leaders of the young generation, with Carlos Alcaraz, by also winning the United States Open (in September) and now three Masters 1000 after Miami in the spring and Cincinnati this summer.
He is the first player to win three of these events in the same season, the most prestigious on the circuit after the Grand Slams, since Rafael Nadal in 2018.
All categories combined, his title in Shanghai is the seventh in a year that he will finish even if he arrives at the top of the ATP ranking, succeeding Novak Djokovic in this case.
PHOTO HECTOR RETAMAL, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Jannik Sinner
However, this ascent does not take place in a cloudless sky. The Italian’s horizon is even seriously darkened by the specter of a suspension for doping.
Testing positive for a steroid in March, he was initially cleared by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) which accepted his explanation that he was accidentally contaminated by a member of his team.
But the case had a twist last month when the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), not convinced by his argument, appealed and requested a one to two year suspension.
The final verdict will be pronounced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Transfer of power
“This year has been very, very hard. Sometimes I lost my smile a little, he admitted after his victory. When I wake up I try to focus on [le match ou l’entraînement] that comes, but of course at times I think about it and it’s not easy to live with.”
But on the court, these difficulties are not visible. On the contrary, against Djokovic, he was of exemplary mental strength in the important moments, particularly the tiebreaker of the first set.
PHOTO TINGSHU WANG, REUTERS
Novak Djokovic
In a rigorous style which does not seek to show off – quite that of Djokovic in his great years, he remained untouchable on his service games (no break point to save throughout the match) and made the break himself as soon as the opportunity arose in the second set to lead 3-1.
The lack of effusiveness in victory was hardly noticeable, but the native of the German-speaking Alpine region of Trentino–Alto Adige is not naturally expansive.
For Djokovic, the year 2024 looks more and more like that of the transfer of power with Sinner and Alcaraz, even if it will remain for him, above all, that of his success in the final of the Olympic Games (against the Spaniard).
The Serbian, 37, has not yet won any tournament on the usual ATP circuit, for the first time since 2006.
Perhaps a little hampered on Sunday by his bandaged right knee, he will have to wait to win the 100e trophy of his career.