ATP Shanghai Masters: Jannik Sinner dismantles Novak Djokovic in straight sets to seal seventh crown of year

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Jannik Sinner won his seventh title of the year with a straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic at the Shanghai Masters, coming through the Serbian world No. 4 7-6(4) 6-3. The world No. 1 won his 65th match of the season to beat the 24-time Grand Slam champion, as Sinner added to his Australian and US Open crowns and ensured that he would remain world No. 1 at the end of the year.

Sinner sweeps aside Djokovic to lift Shanghai Masters

Video credit: TNT Sports

Jannik Sinner won his seventh title of the year with a straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic at the Shanghai Masters.

The world No. 1 came through the 24-time Grand Slam champion 7-6(4) 6-3 to make up for the defeat he suffered at the hands of Carlos Alcaraz in the China Open last week.

The Italian ensured that he would finish the calendar year on top of the rankings when he defeated Tomas Machac in the semis on Saturday, and he produced some of his best tennis to dismantle Djokovic, who had suffered with hip pain in his own semi-final victory over Taylor Fritz.

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Both men served expertly, with neither being broken in the first set - which went to a tie-break, where Sinner notched an early advantage with an immediate mini-break.

He doubled his money to go up 4-0 as he threatened to run away with the seven-pointer, and although Djokovic mounted a revival with a mini-break of his own at 5-2, Sinner teed up two set points as his opponent planted a forehand volley into the net, and the Italian dispatched the first.

Sinner continued his momentum in the second set, breaking Djokovic at the second time of asking in the fourth game to extend his advantage, sealing the break of serve with a stupendous forehand winner on the run.

He held his nerve to serve out the affair in style, with the clock showing one hour and 37 minutes as he crashed down an ace out wide, lifting his racquet into the air to celebrate his 65th victory of the year.

“It was a very tough match playing against Novak,” Sinner said. “It’s one of the toughest challenges we have.

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

"Obviously very happy with my performance throughout this whole tournament. It’s a very special one.

“It’s tough to tell you a secret because he doesn’t have any weaknesses. You have to try to use this really small amount of chances he gives you, but there are not so many throughout the whole match.

“Just try to believe in every moment, and that’s it. He’s a legend of our sport.”

'Still in my mind' - Doping saga affecting Sinner

While Sinner's performance against Djokovic was impressive, he admitted that the ongoing saga surrounding his doping case remains a concern.

He was originally cleared of wrongdoing by an independent tribunal in August after testing positive for the banned substance clostebol.

But the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said last month it would appeal the decision, the result of which could be a ban for Sinner.

"This year has been very, very tough for me because of other circumstances and at points I lost a bit of my smile because I had some issues off the court, and they're still in my mind sometimes," Sinner said after his win.

"People think that by winning or having success you don't have any problems, but it's not true, because I'm in the situation where I'm in. Obviously, it's not comfortable, and I wish I would not be in this position where I am right now off the court.

"But you have to accept it. I feel like I'm strong when I go on the court, trying to not think about it and trying to stay focused on everything I do and give 100% in every single match or practice."

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