Djokovic faces Sinner in Shanghai Masters final rematch

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner are set to face each other for the first time since January, with the pair clashing in the Shanghai Masters final on Sunday in China.

Sinner, whose performance at this week’s Masters 1000 has confirmed he will finish the year astennis world No 1, booked his place in the final with a straight sets victory over No.30 seed Tomas Machac, 6-4, 7-5.

It is the Italian’s fourth consecutive final on the ATP Tour, having lost last week in the China Open final to Carlos Alcaraz and won the US Open and Cincinnati Open before that.

Djokovic, meanwhile, is playing in just his third final of the season, having failed to win a title outside of his gold medal at the Paris Olympics.

He has had plenty of success at this tournament in the past, however, having won the Shanghai Masters four times previously.

Should he do so again on Sunday, he will become just the third man on the ATP Tour to win 100 titles, behind Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109).

“It feels like destiny to fight for a 100th title here in a place where I’ve had great success in the past, where I have tremendous support,” said Djokovic after defeating No.7 seed Taylor Fritz for the 10th time, 6-4, 7-6 (6).

Sinner defeated Djokovic in their only other meeting this year, with the 23-year-old becoming the first man to defeat the Serbian in the Australian Open semi-finals.

“He’s in form the past 12 months, best player in the world, incredible tennis, just so consistent, and [the] player to beat, no doubt, particularly on hard court,” said Djokovic of his upcoming opponent.

“He knows my game, I know his game.

“We haven’t played since Australia this year.

“I’m hoping for the best.

“It’s going to take my highest level to win.”

Sinner, who is 64-6 in 2024, is also looking forward to Sunday’s match.

“We always had some very tough matches in the past,” he said.

“It’s going to be a very tough one, it’s one of the biggest challenges we have in our sport.

“I’m happy that I can play against him in the final, it’s even more special, and then we see how it goes.

“I mean, it’s very tough to predict this one.”

Given their discrepancies in form, top tennis bookmakers do not have 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic as the favourite to win in the Shanghai final.

Instead, Sinner is ahead in outright betting odds, paying -227.27 to Djokovic’s +175 to win.

“I won’t be a favourite on the court,” said Djokovic of his rare underdog status.

“But hopefully I’ll be able to come out physically fresh enough to challenge him for what may be a long match.

“I have to expect probably the toughest encounter of the tournament, and I have to be ready for it, so I look forward to a great challenge.”

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