Tennis: Sinner denies Djokovic his 100th title

“It was a tough match against Djokovic, one of the toughest challenges there is.” “He is a legend of our sport,” said Sinner. “He served very well in the first set. “Then I played a very good tiebreak, that gave me self-confidence,” said the South Tyrolean happily.

For Djokovic, who improved to sixth place in the race to the ATP finals in Turin, the Olympic victory remains the only – albeit very valuable – title so far this year. 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. However, there was no sign of any impairment in the final.

Tennis celebrities in the stands

Swiss tennis icon Roger Federer and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who was eliminated in the quarter-finals, also watched the match in the stands. “I’m not used to seeing you in the stands. “I wish you could play with us here on the court,” said Djokovic towards Federer, who ended his career two years ago.

Federer, Alcaraz and the other spectators saw two stars in the final who gave their opponent almost no chance when serving on their own serve. But in the tiebreak, Sinner immediately managed a mini-break. The lead quickly built up to 4-0 and eventually took the first set. In the second, the youngster managed the first break of the game with a strong forehand to make it 3-1, from which Djokovic never recovered.

Fourth victory in the eighth duel

Sinner made it 4:4 in the head-to-head with “Djoker”, but he was able to win four of the last five duels. For Sinner it was the third Masters 1000 title and the seventh tournament victory this year. Of course, the Grand Slam titles at the Australian Open and the US Open are outstanding; with 17, the 23-year-old now has the same number of tournament wins as Dominic Thiem. By reaching the final, Sinner had already secured the number one position in the world rankings at the end of the year.

Behind all the sporting successes, there is still a question mark about his immediate future. After an acquittal despite two positive doping tests, Sinner faces a ban because the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) recently appealed to the International Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne.

Sabalenka scratches Swiatek’s throne

The favorite also prevailed at the WTA 1000 tournament in Wuhan: Aryna Sabalenka defeated Chinese Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 6:3 5:7 6:3 after 2:40 hours and was happy about her third title in the Chinese city with over a million inhabitants .

The world number two from Belarus received $525,000 in prize money and 1,000 WTA points as she prepares to take the tennis throne back from Poland’s Iga Swiatek. Only 69 points separate them from first place. For Sabalenka, who like Sinner triumphed in Melbourne and Flushing Meadows, it was also the 17th title of her career.

ATP 1000 tournament in Shanghai

(China, $10,298,535, hard court)

WTA 1000 tournament in Wuhan

(China, $3,221,715, hard court)