SHANGHAI — High-ranked Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in straight units to win the Shanghai Masters on Sunday, giving the Italian his career-best seventh tour title of the season.
The Italian bested the 24-time Grand Slam champion 7-6 (4), 6-3 in an hour and 37 minutes and didn’t face a break level within the out of doors event. Sinner hit eight aces and 22 wins to 4 and 12 respectively, for Djokovic.
Djokovic was aiming to win his a centesimal tour-level title and fifth in Shanghai. Solely Jimmy Connors with 109 titles and Roger Federer with 103 have reached the century mark in males’s tennis.
Sinner grew to become the primary man to win greater than six titles in a season since Andy Murray received 9 in 2016. He additionally matched his file in opposition to Djokovic, who has received 4 every.
“It was a really troublesome match, clearly taking part in in opposition to Novak is likely one of the most troublesome challenges now we have,” mentioned Sinner. “It’s troublesome to inform you a secret about (Djokovic) as a result of he has no weaknesses. It’s essential to attempt to reap the benefits of the small alternatives it provides you, however there are numerous through the recreation. He’s a legend in our sport, he’s very troublesome to play with, so I’m very joyful.”
Sinner’s victory got here after he misplaced the ultimate of the China Open in Beijing to Carlos Alcaraz and amid an ongoing doping scandal.
The 23-year-old Sinner is now 8-2 in opposition to top-five opponents on exhausting courts this yr, with each losses coming in opposition to Alcaraz, who watched Sunday’s finals within the stands.
The 37-year-old Djokovic was taking part in in China for the primary time in 5 years.
He additionally misplaced to Sinner within the semi-finals of the Australian Open. His crown of the yr to date was on the Paris Olympics, the place he defeated Alcaraz for the gold medal.
“I believe I performed excellent tennis, however congratulations to Jannik,” Djokovic mentioned. “He was excellent right this moment. Very sturdy, very quick, properly made. You’re having an unbelievable yr. You deserve this.”
Sabalenka received the Wuhan Open
Aryna Sabalenka received the Wuhan Open for the third consecutive yr after beating Zheng Qinwen 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 within the ultimate.
Second-ranked Sabalenka received her fourth title of the season, together with the Australian and US Open.
The Belarus participant took his file within the event to 17-0.
