Sinner wins Shanghai Masters to deny Djokovic 100th career title

World number one Jannik Sinner defeated 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 on Sunday to win the Shanghai Masters.

Sinner took a crucial break in the fourth game of the second set to defeat the Serb in 1hr 37min and deny him a 100th career singles title.

By also reaching the final, top-ranked Sinner ensured he will be the ATP year-end No. 1 and the first Italian to achieve that feat.

Jannik Sinner returns a shot against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in Shanghai, China, on Sunday. AP

Earlier, Sinner weathered a nearly two-hour baseline storm from No. 33-ranked Machac, who beat No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

The Italian has a shot at his third Masters title in 2024 following victories in Miami and Cincinnati, to go with his wins at the Australian Open and US Open.

"I just tried to stay there every point, to see what was going to happen," Sinner said. "Just playing every point with the maximum intensity I could, so I’m very happy about that. I’m happy to be back in a final again.

Novak Djokovic returns a shot against Jannik Sinner of Italy in Shanghai, China, on Sunday. AP

"I’m just looking forward to (the final), to try to find a solution somehow ... and hopefully it’s going to win the match.”

Sinner fired 10 aces and 28 winners, against only seven unforced errors, in a characteristically efficient performance for his 64th match win this year.

Agence France-Presse