Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are set to face off in the final of the Shanghai Masters after both players secured hard-fought victories on Saturday.
Djokovic battled through physical discomfort to defeat Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-6(6), inching closer to his 100th career title and a record-extending fifth win at the Shanghai Masters. Meanwhile, Sinner’s triumph over Tomas Machac not only earned him a place in the final but also confirmed him as the ATP year-end No. 1, making him the first Italian to achieve this historic feat.
Djokovic, who has claimed numerous titles and memorable wins throughout his career, expressed his determination to capture his milestone 100th trophy. “I came here with the vision and desire to reach the final and fight for the 100th title,” said the 37-year-old. “Now I get the chance to do that against the best player in the world, so let’s see what happens.” With fellow greats like Roger Federer (103 titles) and Jimmy Connors (109 titles) still ahead in total victories, Djokovic’s pursuit of this milestone adds extra weight to the upcoming match.
The match against Fritz was not without challenges for Djokovic. He played with his left knee heavily strapped, clearly struggling with mobility throughout the contest. Despite this, Djokovic managed to hold off the 10th-ranked American, extending his unbeaten streak against Fritz to 10-0. Fritz held a 5-3 lead in the second-set tiebreaker and even had a set point at 6-5, but Djokovic’s relentless defense and experience helped him stave off the challenge. Djokovic closed out the match on his first match point when Fritz narrowly missed a full-stretch flick at the net.
Sinner, on the other hand, secured his place in the final by defeating the Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac 6-4, 7-5. Sinner weathered an intense two-hour baseline battle, having already knocked out No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. The Italian, who has already won Masters titles in Miami and Cincinnati this year, will be gunning for his third Masters title of 2024, in addition to his victories at the Australian Open and U.S. Open.
“I just tried to play every point with maximum intensity,” Sinner said after his win. “I’m happy to be back in a final and looking forward to the challenge ahead.”
Sinner’s matchup against Djokovic will be a high-stakes encounter. Although Djokovic leads their head-to-head 4-3, Sinner has won the last two meetings, including their clash in the semifinals of the Australian Open earlier this year. Both players are determined to add another prestigious title to their already illustrious seasons, promising an intense battle for the Shanghai Masters crown.