Top-seeded Jannik Sinner of Italy secured a spot in his first Shanghai Masters final after defeating Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic 6-4, 7-5 in the men's singles semifinals in east China's Shanghai Municipality on Saturday. Sinner will face 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia in a highly anticipated final.
Sinner faced an early challenge, surrendering a break in his first service game. However, he quickly responded by breaking back in the fourth game to level the first set at 2-2. Demonstrating resilience, he held serve in the ninth game and seized a critical break point in the tenth to clinch the first set.
The second set was intensely competitive. Machac earned two break points in the eighth game, but Sinner saved both, showcasing his defensive prowess. In the twelfth game, with match point on the line, the Italian broke Machac once more to secure the victory.
With World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain having lost to Machac in the quarterfinals, Sinner is guaranteed to be the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) year-end No. 1, after holding the top ranking since early June.
\"It's amazing. It's something you dream of when you are a kid, when you are young, just to reach the No. 1,\" Sinner said after the match. \"Now having the year-end, it's also a different and special feeling. It means so much to me, obviously. This is something I could not accomplish without all the people I have around—the family and friends—and also a big credit to my team.\"
Sinner's upcoming clash with Djokovic promises to be a thrilling encounter between two of the sport's top talents. Fans are eagerly awaiting the final to see if Sinner can cap off his remarkable run with a title victory against the seasoned champion.
Reference(s):
Jannik Sinner to meet Novak Djokovic in Shanghai Masters final
cgtn.com
