Jannik Sinner wins Shanghai Masters after straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets Sunday to win the Shanghai Masters.

Sinner moved 4-0 up in the first-set tiebreak before staving off a surge from Djokovic to take the set, and the Italian needed just one break of serve in the second to better the 24-time Grand Slam champion 7-6(4), 6-3 for his his seventh title of 2024.

The 23-year-old becomes the first man to win more than six titles in a calendar year since 2016, when Andy Murray won nine.

Sinner hit eight aces and 22 winners and never faced a break point during the one-hour and 37-minute triumph over Djokovic, who was looking to win a record-extending fifth Shanghai title.

The 37-year-old Serbian was also aiming for his 100th ATP Tour title, a milestone which only Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) have reached in men’s tennis.

“It was a very tough match, obviously, playing against Novak is one of the toughest challenges we have,” said Sinner during the post-game trophy presentation.

“I’m very happy with how I handled the situation. He was serving great the first set, I couldn’t find a way to break him. I played a really good tiebreak which gave me confidence to start off well in the second set.

“It’s tough to tell you a secret about [Djokovic] because he doesn’t have any weaknesses.

“You have to try and use the small chances that he gives you, but there are not many during the match. He is a legend of our sport, he’s very tough to play against, so I am very happy.”

Sinner was last week guaranteed to finish the year as the top-ranked men’s tennis player after nearest rival Carlos Alcaraz’s defeat by Tomas Machac in the quarterfinals in Shanghai.

This was Sinner’s first tournament win since the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced it would be appealing against a decision to clear Sinner of responsibility for his two positive tests for a banned substance earlier in 2024.

(Lintao Zhang / Getty Images)