Jannik Sinner beat Czech Tomas Machac (N.33) this Saturday 6-4, 7-5 to ensure he ends the year as world number 1 and goes to the final of the Shanghai Masters 1000, where he will face Serbian Novak Djokovic (N.4). This Sunday, October 13, starting at 03:30, the duel will take place and will be broadcast on ESPN.
Sinner, who at 23 years old has occupied the throne of men’s tennis since June, is the first Italian to finish the year at No. 1, something he has already assured even in the absence of the last major tournaments of the year, including the ATP Finals.
“I am very happy to achieve this. It has been an incredible year for me and it is not over yet,” commented the player after his victory in the semifinals in Shanghai against Machac, who eliminated the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
After having already won the Miami Masters 1000 and the Cincinnati Masters this season, the Italian qualifies for his third final in this category in 2024, the sixth of his career.
In the event of victory on Sunday, the winner of the Australian Open and the US Open, still in the midst of a doping case to be resolved, would reach 65 victories for only 6 defeats, and would thus surpass his 2023 performance, which has already equaled this Saturday.
Djokovic, for his part, despite winning gold at the Paris Olympics, has not played in any final on the ATP circuit since his defeat at Wimbledon against Alcaraz. If the Serbian wins, he will reach the figure of 100 titles won in his career.
The balance between Sinner and Djokovic is favorable for ‘Djoko’, 4-3, but the Italian has won the last two matches, including the semifinal of the last Australian Open in January.
‘Very satisfied’
The Serbian is thus one step away from his 5th Shanghai title, a record, and could add the first Masters 1000 of his season. Since 2018, he has won at least one tournament in this category every year.
Against Fritz, whom he beat for the 10th time in as many matches, the Serbian was never in trouble (6-4 and 7-6 8/6).
After achieving the ‘break’ when the score was 2-2, Djokovic relied on his serve to maintain his advantage until 6-4.
Trailing 3-2 in the second set, the 37-year-old Serbian saved two break points and took the match to a tie-break.
Djokovic then had to save a set point, but managed to turn the score around and avoid a third set.
“It was an incredible fight. He was able to easily win the second set. In the tie-break we were both able to win,” said ‘Djoko’.
Hours before, Sinner got rid of Machac, despite the fact that the Czech started the match by breaking the Italian’s serve, a warning to the world number 1, who responded by returning the break in the fourth game.
The match entered into a high-intensity exchange of points and in the tenth game Sinner managed to break his rival’s serve again to score the set 6-4.
The second set was also tied and was on the verge of going towards Machac in the ninth game, when with the score at 4-4 Sinner had to save two break balls.
Finally, three games later the Italian managed to break Machac’s serve to win the set 7-5 with his first break point of the set.
“It’s been very tough… He’s very confident and can hit the ball really hard, and he also has a very good serve,” Sinner said. “I’ve tried to stay mentally focused. “I am very satisfied with the way I am fighting at the moment.” (D)
