Jannik Sinner to play Novak Djokovic in Shanghai Masters final as he confirms year-end No. 1 rank - ‘It means so much’

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Jannik Sinner's Shanghai Masters semi-final victory did not only confirm his spot in Sunday's final, but it also made sure of his status as the first Italian player to end the year as the world No. 1. Sinner beat Tomas Machac 6-4 7-5 on Saturday to advance to the final, where he will face Novak Djokovic. “It’s amazing, it’s what you dream of when you’re a kid," Sinner said.

Highlights: Sinner beats Machac to reach Shanghai final and clinch year-end No. 1 ranking

Video credit: SNTV

Jannik Sinner made history as he reached the Shanghai Masters final - where he will face Novak Djokovic - after beating Tomas Machac in the last four on Saturday.

The two-time Grand Slam champion continued his exceptional 2024 campaign by narrowly edging his Czech opponent in two sets to reach his first final in Shanghai, winning 6-4 7-5.

World No. 33 Machac produced an inspiring run to reach the semi-finals in China, but Sinner’s excellence proved too strong in the end as he reached his third Masters final of the campaign.

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Following his one-hour and 42-minute victory, in which he claimed his 64th win of the season and confirmed his spot at the year-end world No. 1 - becoming the first Italian to do so - Sinner described his joy at becoming only the 18th player to end the calendar year as the top-ranked player.

“It’s amazing, it’s what you dream of when you’re a kid, when you’re young. Just trying to reach the number one [rank],” he told Sky Sports.

“Having the year-end [No.1 spot] is also a different and special feeling, but this happens during a tournament so I’m not even looking [at that].

“I know that tomorrow is going to be an important day, the final is ahead, but yeah it means so much and it’s something that I could not accomplish without the people I have around [me].”

Sinner immediately lost serve in the opening game as Machac raced to a two-game lead, but the 23-year-old could not hold on to his early advantage as Sinner hit back in the fourth game.

The Italian took control to lead 5-4 and eventually sealed a second break, in the final game, to wrap up the opening set.

The second was tightly fought and neither player could force a break until the final game at 6-5, when Sinner eventually broke Machac's resistance to clinch the set and victory.

Djokovic reaches first Masters 1000 final of 2024

Novak Djokovic

Image credit: Getty Images

Sinner will face 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic in the final after the Serbian overcame No. 7 seed Taylor Fritz for his 10th win in as many matches against the American.

Djokovic got the job done in straight sets to come through 6-4 7-6(6), eventually getting over the line via a second-set tiebreak to earn the chance to win his 100th career title against the current world No. 1.

"I did come here, this year, definitely with the vision or desire to get to the finals and fight for 100 titles," Djokovic told Sky Sports after his win.

"I get that chance against the best player in the world, and we'll see what happens."

The former top-ranked player struggled physically on both Friday and Saturday and needed a medical timeout against Fritz to receive treatment on his left knee - the opposite knee he recently had surgery on.

"It always takes it out of me, these types of battles. Particularly towards the end of the tournament," Djokovic added.

"At this stage of my career, I'm doing my best to recover, and I had some issues here and there on the court physically a little bit, but managed to overcome it. It was a stern test."

Djokovic has now reached a Masters 1000 final almost every year since 2007 - with the exception of 2010 - which makes it the 17th separate year over a dominant period for the 37-year-old.

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