Jannik Sinner joins Rafael Nadal in exclusive list after win over Novak Djokovic in ATP Shanghai Masters final

Jannik Sinner also became the youngest player to win the Shanghai Masters title.

It was a clash between two different generations as Jannik Sinner took on Novak Djokovic in his maiden ATP Shanghai Masters final. The Italian posted a 7-6(4), 6-3 win over Djokovic for his seventh title of 2024. The latest loss left the Serbian one match short of 40 wins in Shanghai, with the defeat coming in one hour and 37 minutes, about 20 minutes shorter than the two-hour and three-minute 2019 quarter-final loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Sinner has now beaten Djokovic for the third time in a row, the first man to do so since Rafael Nadal in 2013. Nadal achieved the feat with consecutive wins at Roland Garros, Montreal and the US Open in 2013.

DID YOU KNOW❓With his win in the Shanghai final today, 🇮🇹 Jannik Sinner has now beaten Novak Djokovic THREE TIMES IN A ROW—the first man to do that in MORE THAN A DECADE, since Rafael Nadal in 2013. 🔥🔥🔥Sinner's also the first man born *since* Djokovic to achieve the feat:

— TENNIS (@Tennis) October 13, 2024

The 2001-born Italian is also the first player born after Djokovic to beat the four-time Shanghai Champion thrice consecutively. The others on the list are Nadal, Roger Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Andy Murray and Andy Roddick, all born before the former World No. 1.

Having won his fourth Masters 1000 title in his career, Sinner is now the youngest player to win the Shanghai Masters at 23 years, 58 days. His other ATP 1000 wins were in Canada last season and Miami and Cincinnati this year.

Also Read: How many titles has Jannik Sinner won this year?

Interestingly, Sinner and his colleague from the WTA Tour, Aryna Sabalenka, have been winning events in tandem all through the season. The duo has dominated the hard courts, picking up trophies at the Australian Open, Cincinnati, the US Open and now in Shanghai and Wuhan, deep into the Asian swing.

Djokovic falls short in bid for 100th tour-level title at ATP Shanghai Masters 2024

Jannik Sinner scored a comprehensive win over Novak Djokovic to lift a tour-leading seventh title of 2024 on Sunday. The Italian controlled the narrative in the straight set 7-6(4), 6-3 triumph to tie at 4-4 in his career head-to-head with Djokovic. 

Djokovic’s search for an elusive 100th tour-level title after losing to Sinner for the second time this season. If Djokovic had defeated Sinner in Sunday’s final, he would have become just the third man to cross the 100-tour-level title mark in the Open Era after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer.

Federer and Carlos Alcaraz were in the stands as the World No. #1 delayed Djokovic’s quest to join the Swiss great in surpassing 100 ATP-level titles. The Spaniard was there alongside his coach, Juan Carlos Ferrero, inside the Qizhong Forest Sports City Arena.

Also Read: Top 10 players with most ATP singles titles

The closely fought first set saw a tie-break play out. Until Sinner jumped to a 4-0 lead in the tie-break, there was very little to tell the two players apart. Djokovic won only three points in the tiebreaker as Sinner claimed the first set in 56 minutes. 

The second set took just 40 minutes as the Italian opened up a 4-1 lead with a break of serve in the previous game. The World No. #1 served four of his eight aces in the decider, including the one on match point to end Djokovic’s unbeaten 4-0 run in the finals at the Shanghai Masters.

The two baseliners went toe-to-toe, even as Sinner came out on top, having struck 22 winners to 12 by Djokovic. Despite the loss, Djokovic has leapfrogged Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud to sixth place in the Race to Turin, boosting his chances of qualifying for the year-ending ATP Finals.

After the conclusion of the final, Djokovic addressed Federer, “It’s nice to see Roger, I’m not used to seeing you in the stands.” The Serb went on to add, “I wish you could be on the court playing with us, and it’s probably the first time I’m playing in front of you, so I had added pressure today.”

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram