Jannik Sinner emulates Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer with stellar hard-court feat at Shanghai Masters
Jannik Sinner continued his superb season by defeating Tomas Machac in straight sets to reach the final at the 2024 Shanghai Masters.
The world No 1 earned a 6-4, 7-5 victory against the 23-year-old Czech in the semi-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 tournament.
Following his win, Sinner spoke about securing the ATP year-end world No 1 ranking for the first time.
“It’s amazing. It’s something you dream of when you’re a kid, when you’re young,” Sinner said in an on-court interview.
“Just to reach the No 1 spot now, but to have the year-end, it’s also a different and special feeling. But this happened during the tournament. So I’m not even thinking about that.
“I know tomorrow will be an important day, the final. But it means so much to me obviously. This is something I could not accomplish without the people and family and friends I have. Credit to my team.”
Sinner is through to his maiden final in Shanghai and he will face either Novak Djokovic or Taylor Fritz as he seeks his fourth Masters 1000 crown.
ATP News
Novak Djokovic breaks sensational Roger Federer longevity record at the Shanghai Masters
The 23-year-old Italian has now reached eight finals during his outstanding 2024 campaign, with seven of these at hard-court events, while the other was on grass in Halle.
Jannik Sinner’s finals in 2024
Australian Open – won vs. Daniil Medvedev
Rotterdam – won vs. Alex de Minaur
Miami – won vs. Grigor Dimitrov
Halle – won vs. Hubert Hurkacz
Cincinnati – won vs. Frances Tiafoe
US Open – won vs . Taylor Fritz
Beijing – lost vs. Carlos Alcaraz
Shanghai – will face Novak Djokovic or Taylor Fritz
Having also reached seven hard-court finals last year, Sinner has become just the third man in the Open Era to play in seven or more hard-court finals in successive seasons. Tennis legends Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic are the other players who have achieved the feat.
Federer reached at least seven hard-court finals every year from 2004 to 2007, while he also did so in 2014 and 2015. Djokovic, meanwhile, accomplished this between 2011 and 2013, as well as in 2015 and 2016.
After reaching his third Masters 1000 final of 2024 in Shanghai, Sinner was asked where he has felt best out of his three runs to title matches at this level this year.
“Tough to say. I felt like in Miami I was hitting very very good,” Sinner assessed. “The conditions that week and how I touched the ball, I felt great.
“Cincinnati is a bit different. It’s windy. It’s difficult to play there. It was a mental week. This one here is also a mental week. I just tried to stay calm. It’s not every day it’s gonna be the same.
“So I’m looking forward to it. Trying to play every match I can in the best possible way. I guess that’s all I’m gonna try to do tomorrow and hopefully it’s gonna be a good match.”
