Novak Djokovic advanced towards his 100th ATP title on Saturday by defeating American seventh seed Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-6(6) in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals, setting up a showdown with top-ranked Jannik Sinner.
Earlier that day, Sinner clinched the year-end world number one ranking by overcoming Czech 30th seed Tomas Machac 6-4, 7-5, marking him the first Italian to reach the tournament’s final.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, will compete in his fifth Shanghai Masters final, aiming for his 100th ATP title and fifth victory at this event.
“I came here with the vision to reach the final and compete for 100 titles,” Djokovic stated. “Now, I have that chance against the world’s best player, and let’s see what happens.”
Entering the match with a 9-0 head-to-head advantage over Fritz, Djokovic applied pressure from the start, challenging Fritz to defend three break points in the opening game. Djokovic’s precision and power, especially with his backhand, earned him three more break points at 2-2. He eventually broke Fritz’s serve, which proved pivotal in winning the first set with an ace.
In the second set, despite Fritz’s resilience and a brief momentum gain, Djokovic managed to maintain control, even after requiring on-court treatment for a hip issue. The set extended to a tiebreak, where Fritz’s unforced errors cost him the match.
“Taylor is in top form, especially after the US Open final, and he’s performing well, particularly on this surface with a strong serve,” Djokovic noted. “I aimed to avoid a third set and am relieved to have prevailed.”
Machac started strong against Sinner, winning the first two games, but Sinner quickly recovered, clinching a challenging first set in 44 minutes due to errors from Machac. Sinner, the twice Grand Slam champion, faced a tougher challenge in the second set but ultimately outplayed Machac, securing his 64th victory of the year with minimal unforced errors.
Reflecting on his outstanding season, which includes his first Grand Slam wins at the Australian and US Opens, Sinner shared, “It’s amazing. Reaching the number one spot was a childhood dream, and achieving the year-end number one is even more special.”
Sinner, who showcased cautious play throughout, especially during his service games, will aim for his seventh trophy of the year on Sunday.
