World number one Jannik Sinner defeated 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Sunday to claim the Shanghai Masters title. Sinner secured a pivotal break in the fourth game of the second set, overcoming Djokovic in 1 hour and 37 minutes, denying the Serb his 100th career singles title. After the match, Djokovic acknowledged Sinner’s superior performance, stating, “He was just too good today, too strong, too fast.” Sinner praised Djokovic as a “legend” who continues to play “incredible tennis year after year.” Referring to Roger Federer, who was in the audience, the 23-year-old Sinner humorously remarked, “There are legends everywhere, I just try to keep up a little bit.”
In a closely contested first set, neither player managed to break serve. Sinner took charge in the tiebreak, breaking Djokovic’s serve on the first point and building a 5-1 lead. Although Djokovic regrouped, he misplayed a volley that led to set point at 6-3. Sinner missed his first opportunity but closed out the set on the second.
The defining moment came in the fourth game of the second set, with Sinner up 40-15 on Djokovic’s serve. While Djokovic saved one break point with a powerful ace, he couldn’t stop Sinner’s blistering forehand down the line, giving the Italian a crucial lead. Sinner then confidently served out the match, sealing victory with an ace.
Sinner’s win crowns an impressive year, during which he captured two Grand Slam titles and held the world number one ranking since June. However, his season has been clouded by controversy after twice testing positive for a banned steroid in March. In August, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) accepted Sinner’s explanation that the substance entered his body unintentionally through a treatment from his physiotherapist. Despite this, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced last month that it would appeal the decision, seeking a possible two-year ban.
The news came as Sinner was competing in the China Open, where he lost in the final to Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who also attended Sunday’s match. Before the Shanghai Masters, Sinner admitted he was “not in a situation where I feel comfortable.”
