Jannik Sinner denied Novak Djokovic the 100th title of his career with victory in the Shanghai Masters final as the World No 1 claimed his third win in a row against the 24-time grand slam champion.
Djokovic, 37, was bidding to become just the third man in the Open era to reach a century of titles after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer, who was sat in the crowd next to Carlos Alcaraz.
But Sinner, 23, continued his dominant run of form on the hard courts by winning his third ATP 1000 tournament of the year, edging a close final 7-6 (4) 6-3 in one hour and 36 minutes.
The first set was close and dominated by serve but the Australian Open and US Open champion elevated his game to win the tiebreak, as Djokovic coughed up a key error at the net to hand Sinner set points.
And the Italian pressed his advantage into the second as he broke Djokovic for the first time in the match with a stunning forehand winner. Sinner remained solid on serve, not facing a single break point all match, as he closed out his seventh title of the year to deny Djokovic a slice of tennis history.
Follow score updates from the Shanghai Masters in our live blog, below.
Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner: Latest updates
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Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner meet in Shanghai Open final | Live on Sky Sports Tennis
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Djokovic is bidding to win 100th title of his career at age of 37
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World No 1 Sinner has won past two meetings with Djokovic
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SET! Sinner wins tight first set on tiebreak to lead Shanghai final
Novak Djokovic 6-7 3-6 Jannik Sinner
11:19 , Jamie Braidwood
ACE FROM SINNER! He is the Shanghai Masters champion!
WOW. Djokovic dispatched 7-6 6-3!
Novak Djokovic 6-7 3-5 Jannik Sinner*
11:18 , Jamie Braidwood
I remember when Sinner defeated Djokovic twice in two weeks at the end of last season and thinking how big it would be for his mentality coming into 2024.
Now a two-time grand slam champion, he doesn’t look like choking in situations like this, even against a great champion like Djokovic.
Sinner remains steady on serve, as Djokoivc fires a return long. Another big serve from Sinner out wide, and he follows it with the drive volley on the forehand, catching the line!
TWO Championship points for Sinner .
Novak Djokovic 6-7 3-5 Jannik Sinner*
11:15 , Jamie Braidwood
It’s all or nothing for Djokovic now but he ticks off the first couple of points on serve as the crowd rallies in support.
A love-hold in fact, for Djokovic, as Sinner nets on the backhand return. Over to the Italian….
*Novak Djokovic 6-7 2-5 Jannik Sinner
11:13 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic raises his arms to the sky after a wild forehand miss. Sinner is cruising now, the Italian firing a huge forehand winner to move to 40-0.
Another big backhand miss from Djokovic and Sinner moves a game away. The Italian needs just one more hold, and he’s not faced a break point all match.
Novak Djokovic 6-7 2-4 Jannik Sinner*
11:09 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic is trying to hold on. There’s not a great deal of emotion from the 37-year-old who knows he’s up against a supreme opponent in the young Italian.
Sinner forces 40-30 with a forehand on the stretch, returning with great power. But Sinner nets on the backhand return. Hold for the Serbian.
*Novak Djokovic 6-7 1-4 Jannik Sinner
11:05 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic with an awful forehand miss after being drawn into midcourt by Sinner. The Italian holds on 40-30 with a big first serve and forehand strike. He moves two games away.
Novak Djokovic 6-7 1-3 Jannik Sinner* – Sinner breaks!
10:58 , Jamie Braidwood
Ooh. Another chance for Sinner here as Djokovic comes into the net and the Italian produces the backhand pass down the line.
0-30. Djokovic blasts his way through the Sinner defence on the forehand. But here comes the first break points of the match!
Sinner lands a fierce backhand down low and Djokovic coughs up the error on the volley! Djokovic saves the first with an ace.
Can he save the second? WINNER FROM SINNER! WOW! Shot of the match from the World No 1! Djokovic pushed him wide but Sinner fired the forehand winner down the line!
Stunning! Sinner breaks!
*Novak Djokovic 6-7 1-2 Jannik Sinner
10:56 , Jamie Braidwood
Sinner emerges from an error-strewn game, holding against Djokovic after being taken to 40-30. Sinner landed a crosscourt forehand onto the line as Djokovic pushed his return long.
Still yet to see a break point, but we’re getting closer!
Novak Djokovic 6-7 1-1 Jannik Sinner*
10:51 , Jamie Braidwood
Sinner senses his opportunity. On 40-30, the World No 1 jumps on the Djokovic second serve and takes the return early, forcing the miss. Djokovic was comfortable at 40-0 but faces deuce for the first time in his match.
Sinner, though, nets on the running backhand before Djokovic gets out of trouble. He lands the first serve and then puts the forehand winner behind Sinner, who is frustrated at not being able to bring up break point.
*Novak Djokovic 6-7 0-1 Jannik Sinner
10:45 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic lands a couple of blows on the first Sinner service game, replying well to the Italian’s forehand angle to force the miss.
It brings up 40-30, but Sinner angles a lovely backhand. Djokovic nets on the stretch. We’ve still yet to see a deuce point.
Novak Djokovic 6-7 Jannik Sinner*
10:42 , Jamie Braidwood
Sinner will serve first to start this second set.
Novak Djokovic 6-7 Jannik Sinner – Sinner wins first set!
10:39 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic’s return floats wide and Sinner wraps up the first set with a very impressive tiebreak! Sure, that volley will haunt Djokovic, but the way the Italian elevated his game at the start of the decider was key, winning five of the first six points.
Sinner won 81 per cent of his first serve points (21/26) and the 23-year-old looked so steady even as the first set remained tight. There wasn’t a lot in it but the World No 1 leads after 55 minutes of this Shanghai Masters final.
Novak Djokovic 6-6 Jannik Sinner – Tiebreak!
10:34 , Jamie Braidwood
Sinner has two balls in hand and could almost wrap up this tiebreak here. Brilliant direction from Sinner, steering the backhand onto the line from the middle of the baseline! 5-1 to Sinner.
Finally Sinner is pushed into the error on the forehand. Djokovic took a deep breath there and hit boldly for the lines. He gets his reward as Sinner pushes long. 5-2.
Stunner of a point from Djokovic, pushing Sinner deep behind his forehand before landing a lovely drop-volley. 5-3.
HUGE MISS! I can’t believe it! Djokovic was in control behind his serve but nets on the volley! As simple a volley as you could ask for! That brings up set point. 6-3.
Sinner, though, nets on the backhand. He’ll have another set point behind serve… 6-4.
Novak Djokovic 6-6 Jannik Sinner – Tiebreak!
10:31 , Jamie Braidwood
Winner from Sinner! He breaks Djokovic’s run of points on serve with a lovely backhand pass down the line, stretching down low and sliding into the shot! 0-1.
How key could that be? Sinner thumps an ace out wide, his sixth of the match. And that’s another scorcher from Sinner, a huge forehand driven down the line! 0-3 already to Sinner.
Wow. Djokovic nets on the forehand, after Sinner dialled up the pressure in the rally. Suddenly Djokovic is falling onto his first serve. But he steadies with the forehand attack. 1-4 to Sinner.
Novak Djokovic 6-6 Jannik Sinner – Tiebreak!
10:29 , Jamie Braidwood
Sinner steers a lovely backhand winner up the line to jump into a 30-0 lead. The Italian then recovers from a drop-shot drooped into the net with a thumping ace out wide.
That’s excellent from Djokovic, returning with real intent before stepping in to put away the drive volley. He’s asking the question of Sinner.
But the serve is so strong, out wide from Sinner, and Djokovic is set running onto his forehand. He can only net.
So onto a tiebreak we go. This final has been so serve dominant. Who will get the upper hand in the decider?
Sinner has won eight of his last nine, Djokovic has won five from five at this tournament.
Novak Djokovic 6-5 Jannik Sinner*
10:24 , Jamie Braidwood
So strong from Djokovic behind serve. He makes it 12 points from 12 in a row over the last three service games to reach the tiebreak at least.
Sinner will serve next to join him there.
*Novak Djokovic 5-5 Jannik Sinner
10:19 , Jamie Braidwood
For the first time this match, Djokovic wins a point against Sinner’s first serve. He chips the return at the Italian, before landing a tricky backhand into his feet. He can’t make the pick-up volley
Sinner then nets on the run, which brings up 0-30! A chance here for Djokovic.
Sinner, though, lands two big serves in a row, the first out wide and the second down the middle. Djokovic can just about get a racket onto them but can’t return.
30-30. Djokovic blocks the return but Sinner finds a stunning angle behind his forehand, driving towards the line. Djokovic reaches it but Sinner puts away the smash.
What a hold from Sinner. He finds another first serve, this time out wide, and wins four points in a row from 0-30 down.
Novak Djokovic 5-4 Jannik Sinner*
10:17 , Jamie Braidwood
Another love-hold from Djokovic, his second in a row. Sinner will serve to stay in the set next.
We’re edging closer to a tiebreak. Sinner has a remarkable record in tiebreaks so far this season, but he did lose the deciding tiebreak in the China Open final against Carlos Alcaraz two weeks ago.
*Novak Djokovic 4-4 Jannik Sinner
10:14 , Jamie Braidwood
Sinner is serving at less than 50% but he is looking so dominant when his first serve lands, winning 11 of his first 11 points.
Djokovic’s serve percentage is higher, up at 80%, which is keeping Sinner at bay. The Italian has eight winners to Djokovic’s four so far, and has the slight edge in the rallies.
Novak Djokovic 4-3 Jannik Sinner*
10:09 , Jamie Braidwood
A rapid love-hold from Djokovic, the first of the final, and it keeps this blockbuster on serve. Sinner will have new balls next.
*Novak Djokovic 3-3 Jannik Sinner
10:07 , Jamie Braidwood
We’ve yet to see a deuce point midway though this first set, let alone a break point. But it feels as if Sinner is more in control on serve so far.
The World No 1 jumps to 30-0 before Djokovic wins an excellent point, earning the rewards of his attacking play to push Sinner behind the baseline.
Sinner just closes out the game with little fuss, though, finding another big serve to hold. 3-3.
Novak Djokovic 3-2 Jannik Sinner*
10:02 , Jamie Braidwood
Sinner gets off the mark with an entertaining point to start the fifth game – putting a volley past Djokovic at the net.
Djokovic expresses some frustration to the umpire as he has to challenge a ball from Sinner that landed a good foot behind the baseline.
“How can you not see this?” he asks. Djokovic lands the first serve and takes the game to stay ahead.
And Roger Federer is here too! A star-studded crowd for this Shanghai Masters final.
*Novak Djokovic 2-2 Jannik Sinner
09:58 , Jamie Braidwood
It’s been a high-quality start from both players in the rallies, which is what you would expect from two of the cleanest ball strikers in the game.
Djokovic is also looking super aggressive – and slams down a second-serve return to move to 30-30! That came after Sinner thought he had an ace – but the umpire ruled it was out, incorrectly.
Djokovic roars in frustration as he makes a forehand error into the net on 30-30, and that’s why. Sinner lands a thumping first serve down the middle to hold, taking the chance away.
Novak Djokovic 2-1 Jannik Sinner*
09:53 , Jamie Braidwood
Sinner puts Djokovic under some early pressure by striking early asking his opponent to stretch wide. Djokovic looks a little uneasy on his feet as he nets to bring up 0-30.
Djokovic finds clutch serving to get back to 30-30, and then produces a lovely attacking point to move in and put away the forehand winner past Sinner.
Sinner goes wide on the next return and that’s a good hold from Djokovic from 0-30 down.
*Novak Djokovic 1-1 Jannik Sinner
09:49 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic is off the mark on a couple of early returns against the Sinner serve. The Italian has settled well and looks confident striking up and down the court against Djokovic from the baseline.
Djokovic goes long and Sinner holds to 15.
Novak Djokovic 1-0 Jannik Sinner*
09:46 , Jamie Braidwood
It’s not a surprise to these guys playing a couple of long points in the opening game. Sinner is trying to move Djokovic around the baseline and get his opponent out wide by opening up the court.
Djokovic, though, holds with an excellent serve down the middle.
*Novak Djokovic 0-0 Jannik Sinner
09:42 , Jamie Braidwood
Djokovic serves to get us started. This should be a cracker, although there will be plenty of attention on Djokovic’s knees after appearing to struggle slightly in the semi-final win over Taylor Fritz yesterday.
Carlos Alcaraz is sitting in the second row! An interested observer, clearly.
*denotes next server
Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner
09:35 , Jamie Braidwood
And here we go! The players are out on court in Shanghai and we’re moments away from the start of this Shanghai final. It’s a fourth Shanghai final for Djokovic and a first for Sinner – but the 100th title is on the line for the 37-year-old.
Sinner wins the toss and elects to receive.
A pre-match photo between Sinner and Djokovic – this is their second final, after the ATP Finals showpiece won by Djokovic in Turin last November.
‘Part of me left with them’ – Djokovic reflects as Nadal joins ‘Big Four’ retirees
09:30 , Jamie Braidwood
Earlier this week, Novak Djokovic said he felt overwhelmed at the news he will be the only active member of the ‘Big Four’.
With Roger Federer and Andy Murray having already left the sport, Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that he will also hang up his racket at the end of the season.
“We knew that that moment is coming sooner than later but it’s still a shock,” Djokovic said.
“Also for Roger a few years ago when he announced retirement, and Andy as well this year. It’s a bit overwhelming for me. I don’t know what to make out of it. I still enjoy competing but part of me left with them, a big part of me.”
And yet he’s still out there competing for titles.
Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner head-to-head
09:20 , Jamie Braidwood
2024: Australian Open, semi-final, outdoor hard – Sinner wins in four sets
2023: Davis Cup Finals, semi-final, indoor hard – Sinner wins in three sets
2023: ATP Finals, final, indoor hard – Djokovic wins in two sets
2023: ATP Finals, round robin – Sinner wins in three sets
2023: Wimbledon, semi-final, grass – Djokovic wins in three sets
2022: Wimbledon, quarter-final, grass – Djokovic wins in five sets
2021: Monte Carlo, round of 32, clay, Djokovic wins in two sets
Jannik Sinner on achieving historic year-end No 1
09:05 , Jamie Braidwood
Yesterday, Jannik Sinner became the first Italian to achieve the world-end No 1 ranking after reaching the Shanghai Open final. The 23-year-old is bidding to win his seventh tourament of the year, to add to his grand slams at the US Open and Australian Open.
“It’s amazing. It’s something you dream of when you are a kid, when you are young, just to reach the No. 1. Now having the year-end, it’s also a different and special feeling,” Sinner said after his victory over Tomas Machac in the semi-finals.
“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.”
Novak Djokovic requires ‘highest level’ to beat Jannik Sinner
08:50 , Jamie Braidwood
Novak Djokovic says he won’t be the favourite against Jannik Sinner and he is expecting a physical battle with the World No 1, who ended his run of 33 wins in a row at the Australian Open earlier this year.
“I won’t be a favourite on the court, but hopefully I’ll be able to come out physically fresh enough, you know, to challenge him for what may be the long match.
“I have to expect probably the toughest encounter of the tournament … 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.”
Novak Djokovic on the ‘fight’ for a 100th title
08:35 , Jamie Braidwood
Novak Djokovic reached the Shanghai Masters final with victory over Taylor Fritz on Saturday and is one win from joining the 100-club.
“I came to Shanghai after five years of not playing in China, the place where I’ve always had great success, both in Shanghai and Beijing,” he said.
“That creates an energy that keeps me going, keeps me running, so I did come here definitely with a vision and a desire to get to the final and fight for a 100th title.
“I get that chance against the best player in the world, and let’s see what happens.”
When is Novak Djokovic vs Jannik Sinner?
08:27 , Luke Baker
The Shanghai Masters final will be played from 09:30am on Sunday 13 October.
How can I watch the Shanghai Masters?
Sky Sports has the rights for the Shanghai Masters and will be showing Djokovic vs Sinner on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Tennis.
If you’re not a Sky customer, you can grab a NOWTV Day Pass here to watch without a subscription.
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Good morning
08:17 , Luke Baker
Welcome along to live coverage of the Shanghai Masters final, in what could be an epic between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner. There’s history on the line, and the latest chance to see Djokovic battle with one his two young rivals at the age of 37.
We’ll bring you all the build up until we get going just after 9:30am.
