Novak Djokovic denied 100th title as Jannik Sinner wins Shanghai Masters final - result and live reaction
The World No 1 won his seventh tournament of the year to deny Djokovic his place in the century club with a 7-6 6-3 victory in China
Jannik Sinner denied Novak Djokovic the 100th title of his career with victory in the Shanghai Masters final as the World No 1 claimed his third win in a row against the 24-time grand slam champion.
Djokovic, 37, was bidding to become just the third man in the Open era to reach a century of titles after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer, who was sat in the crowd next to Carlos Alcaraz.
But Sinner, 23, continued his dominant run of form on the hard courts by winning his third ATP 1000 tournament of the year, edging a close final 7-6 (4) 6-3 in one hour and 36 minutes.
The first set was dominated by serve but the Australian Open and US Open champion elevated his game to win the tiebreak, as Djokovic coughed up a key error at the net to hand Sinner set points.
And the Italian pressed his advantage into the second as he broke Djokovic for the first time in the match with a stunning forehand winner.
Sinner remained solid on serve, not facing a single break point all match, as he closed out his seventh title of the year to deny Djokovic a slice of tennis history.
Follow the reaction from the Shanghai Masters final in our live blog, below.
*Novak Djokovic 6-7 0-1 Jannik Sinner
Djokovic lands a couple of blows on the first Sinner service game, replying well to the Italian’s forehand angle to force the miss.
It brings up 40-30, but Sinner angles a lovely backhand. Djokovic nets on the stretch. We’ve still yet to see a deuce point.
Novak Djokovic 6-7 Jannik Sinner*
Sinner will serve first to start this second set.
Novak Djokovic 6-7 Jannik Sinner - Sinner wins first set!
Djokovic’s return floats wide and Sinner wraps up the first set with a very impressive tiebreak! Sure, that volley will haunt Djokovic, but the way the Italian elevated his game at the start of the decider was key, winning five of the first six points.
Sinner won 81 per cent of his first serve points (21/26) and the 23-year-old looked so steady even as the first set remained tight. There wasn’t a lot in it but the World No 1 leads after 55 minutes of this Shanghai Masters final.
Novak Djokovic 6-6 Jannik Sinner - Tiebreak!
Sinner has two balls in hand and could almost wrap up this tiebreak here. Brilliant direction from Sinner, steering the backhand onto the line from the middle of the baseline! 5-1 to Sinner.
Finally Sinner is pushed into the error on the forehand. Djokovic took a deep breath there and hit boldly for the lines. He gets his reward as Sinner pushes long. 5-2.
Stunner of a point from Djokovic, pushing Sinner deep behind his forehand before landing a lovely drop-volley. 5-3.
HUGE MISS! I can’t believe it! Djokovic was in control behind his serve but nets on the volley! As simple a volley as you could ask for! That brings up set point. 6-3.
Sinner, though, nets on the backhand. He’ll have another set point behind serve... 6-4.
Novak Djokovic 6-6 Jannik Sinner - Tiebreak!
Winner from Sinner! He breaks Djokovic’s run of points on serve with a lovely backhand pass down the line, stretching down low and sliding into the shot! 0-1.
How key could that be? Sinner thumps an ace out wide, his sixth of the match. And that’s another scorcher from Sinner, a huge forehand driven down the line! 0-3 already to Sinner.
Wow. Djokovic nets on the forehand, after Sinner dialled up the pressure in the rally. Suddenly Djokovic is falling onto his first serve. But he steadies with the forehand attack. 1-4 to Sinner.
Novak Djokovic 6-6 Jannik Sinner - Tiebreak!
Sinner steers a lovely backhand winner up the line to jump into a 30-0 lead. The Italian then recovers from a drop-shot drooped into the net with a thumping ace out wide.
That’s excellent from Djokovic, returning with real intent before stepping in to put away the drive volley. He’s asking the question of Sinner.
But the serve is so strong, out wide from Sinner, and Djokovic is set running onto his forehand. He can only net.
So onto a tiebreak we go. This final has been so serve dominant. Who will get the upper hand in the decider?
Sinner has won eight of his last nine, Djokovic has won five from five at this tournament.
Novak Djokovic 6-5 Jannik Sinner*
So strong from Djokovic behind serve. He makes it 12 points from 12 in a row over the last three service games to reach the tiebreak at least.
Sinner will serve next to join him there.
*Novak Djokovic 5-5 Jannik Sinner
For the first time this match, Djokovic wins a point against Sinner’s first serve. He chips the return at the Italian, before landing a tricky backhand into his feet. He can’t make the pick-up volley
Sinner then nets on the run, which brings up 0-30! A chance here for Djokovic.
Sinner, though, lands two big serves in a row, the first out wide and the second down the middle. Djokovic can just about get a racket onto them but can’t return.
30-30. Djokovic blocks the return but Sinner finds a stunning angle behind his forehand, driving towards the line. Djokovic reaches it but Sinner puts away the smash.
What a hold from Sinner. He finds another first serve, this time out wide, and wins four points in a row from 0-30 down.
Novak Djokovic 5-4 Jannik Sinner*
Another love-hold from Djokovic, his second in a row. Sinner will serve to stay in the set next.
We’re edging closer to a tiebreak. Sinner has a remarkable record in tiebreaks so far this season, but he did lose the deciding tiebreak in the China Open final against Carlos Alcaraz two weeks ago.
*Novak Djokovic 4-4 Jannik Sinner
Sinner is serving at less than 50% but he is looking so dominant when his first serve lands, winning 11 of his first 11 points.
Djokovic’s serve percentage is higher, up at 80%, which is keeping Sinner at bay. The Italian has eight winners to Djokovic’s four so far, and has the slight edge in the rallies.
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