World number one Jannik Sinner clinched the Shanghai Masters title on Sunday, defeating 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. The victory denied Djokovic his 100th career singles title after a match that lasted 1 hour and 37 minutes.
Following the defeat, Djokovic praised Sinner, admitting, “He was just too good today, too strong, too fast.” Sinner expressed his joy, calling it a very special day and hailing Djokovic as a legend of the sport who continues to play “incredible tennis… year after year.”
The 23-year-old Italian also acknowledged Roger Federer, who was present in the stands, quipping, “There are legends everywhere, I just try to keep up a little bit.”
The match saw an intense opening set, with neither player giving away a break. Sinner gained momentum in the tiebreak, breaking Djokovic’s serve at the first opportunity and surging to a 5-1 lead. Although Djokovic managed to narrow the gap, Sinner eventually secured the set on his second set point.
A crucial moment came in the fourth game of the second set when Sinner broke Djokovic’s serve with a stunning forehand down the line. Holding his nerve, Sinner served out the match with an ace to seal his triumph.
Sinner’s victory in Shanghai adds to his impressive season, during which he has won two Grand Slam titles and maintained his top ranking since June. However, the year has also been marked by controversy after Sinner tested positive twice for a banned steroid in March.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency accepted Sinner’s explanation that the steroid entered his system unintentionally through a spray applied by his physiotherapist. Despite being cleared, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) is appealing the decision, seeking a potential two-year ban.
This development came as Sinner competed at the China Open, where he was defeated by Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who was also present in the crowd on Sunday.
Djokovic acknowledged that Sinner played the crucial points better and deserved to win. The 37-year-old Serb, who now stands as the last active player from tennis’s golden era following Rafael Nadal’s recent retirement, said his pursuit of a 100th title remains, but it is not a live-or-die type of goal.