Jannik Sinner has had the most remarkable of years and shows no signs of stopping. The world No.1 proved too solid for Novak Djokovic in the final and clinched the Shanghai Masters title for the first time, becoming the youngest player ever to win it. This was the first time Djokovic lost a final in Shanghai. Both players went toe-to-toe in the first set, but Sinner played a brilliant tiebreak. The second set was all about Sinner. He was just simply too good. This is the second match in a row that Sinner didn’t give Djokovic a single look at a breakpoint, which is remarkable against the greatest returner of all time. Interestingly, Sinner also became the first player to beat Djokovic three consecutive times, since Rafael Nadal in 2013.
First Player Born in the 90s or later to win 7 Titles in a Year
Jannik Sinner becomes the first player born in the 1990s or later to win seven Tour-level titles in a season. The Italian has won 2 Grand Slams, 3 Masters 1000s and 2 ATP 500s in 2024. Carlos Alcaraz (born in 2003) and Alexander Zverev (born in 1997) have come close with 6 titles in a year, but Sinner has surpassed them and has the chance to add more. The Italian could also become the first player since the Big 3 ( Djokovic, Nadal and Federer) to end the season with a win percentage over 90. He is currently at 91.5%.
Sinner has become too strong and too solid from the baseline, and the improved serve makes him almost impossible to break when he’s dialed in. He is the most dominant player on hard courts and the consistency is off the charts. The Italian has won 5 out of 7 big titles on hard courts and is the man to beat during this part of the season. His base level is higher than any player in the world and a super strong mentality makes him even more dangerous. He will be the favorite to win the Paris Masters and the ATP Finals. It will be interesting to see who can stop him.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
