Sinner beats Djokovic in the Shanghai final

Jannik Sinner is in a class of his own this year. The tennis star wins the next big title in Shanghai. Final opponent Novak Djokovic still has to wait for an anniversary.

Jannik Sinner celebrated the next big triumph this season with a prestigious victory in the duel of tennis superstars with Novak Djokovic. The world number one from Italy prevailed in the final of the top-class tournament in Shanghai against the Serbian record Grand Slam tournament winner 7:6 (7:4), 6:3.

After Miami and Cincinnati, it was Sinner’s third title at a Masters 1000 tournament within a year. The last time the Spanish veteran star Rafael Nadal achieved this on the tour was in 2018. The 23-year-old Sinner, who has also won the Australian Open and US Open on the Grand Slam stage and will end the year as number 1 in the tennis world, was also crowned the youngest champion of the Shanghai tournament.

Sinner still faces a ban despite an acquittal after two positive doping tests. The World Anti-Doping Agency Wada recently appealed the case to the International Court of Arbitration for Sports in Lausanne.

No anniversary title

Djokovic (37), however, missed the 100th title of his career. The 24-time Grand Slam tournament winner played again with a bandage around his right knee, which was operated on in June, and admitted “a few physical problems here and there” after the semifinals.

At least there was no sign of any impairment in the final. Both top players hardly gave their opponents any chances, but in the crucial moments Sinner seemed more confident and determined. Among the spectators were the Swiss tennis icon Roger Federer and the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals.

DPA/zap