How Jannik Sinner's triumph in Shanghai Masters marks a shift in rivalry with Novak Djokovic

World number one Jannik Sinner defeated Novak Djokovic to win the Shanghai Masters on Sunday, delaying a 100th career title for the 24-time Grand Slam champion in the process. Sinner, who won the US and Australian Open this year, was crowned champion after his 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win against Djokovic.

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.

“He was just too good today, too strong, too fast,” Djokovic said after the match.

Sinner said it was a “very special day”, saluting his opponent as a “legend” who kept playing “incredible tennis… year after year”.

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In a nod to former Djokovic rival Roger Federer, who was watching from the stands, the 23-year-old joked: “There are legends everywhere, I just try to keep up a little bit.”

HE’S DONE IT AGAIN 👑

A masterclass in Shanghai as @janniksin becomes the youngest champion and the first player since Djokovic in 2020 to win consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles! 🌟 @SH_RolexMasters | #RolexShanghaiMasters pic.twitter.com/g78cpEuSPd

— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 13, 2024

Facing off before an impassioned crowd, neither player blinked in the first set, unable to break the other’s serve.

Sinner quickly took control in the tiebreak, breaking Djokovic’s serve on the first point and going 5-1 up.

The Serb steadied himself but then netted a volley to bring up set point at 6-3.

Sinner failed to convert initially but didn’t miss the second time behind serve.

The next key moment came in the fourth game of the second set when Sinner was up 40-15 on Djokovic’s serve.

Djokovic saved one break point with a fiery ace but couldn’t stop a superb forehand down the line from Sinner that saw him pull ahead.

All that remained was for the Italian to hold his nerve, hitting an ace to finish the match and claim the title.

Sinner goes level with Djokovic

With his victory over Djokovic in the Shanghai Masters final, Sinner finally caught up with his celebrated opponent in their head-to-head rivalry.

Sinner and Djokovic have now faced each other eight times since their first meeting at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2021. With the Shanghai Masters final going in the Italian’s favour, both Sinner and Djokovic have now won four matches each.

However, what is worth noting is the fact that Sinner has completed a hat-trick of victories against the Serbian superstar, signifying a shift in their rivalry.

Djokovic played six sets against Sinner in 2024 and created zero break points.

Crazy.

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 13, 2024

Before the Shanghai triumph, Sinner had defeated Djokovic in the semi-finals of this year’s Australian Open, which would be followed by a victory over Daniil Medvedev in the final for his maiden Grand Slam.

Before that, Sinner had triumphed over ‘Djoker’ in the semi-final stage of last year’s Davis Cup Finals.

Djokovic had dominated the rivalry initially with a hat-trick of wins, registering a 6-4, 6-2 win in their Round of 32 clash in the 2021 Monte Carlo Masters followed by a 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon the following year.

Sinner and Djokovic would meet in the grass-court Grand Slam for the second time in as many years, and the latter once again triumphed, this time winning their semi-final encounter 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4).

Their next two meetings would take place in the 2023 ATP Finals; while the Italian won their round-robin encounter 7-5, 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-2), Djokovic would defeat him in the final 6-3, 6-3.

With AFP inputs