Can Sinner Stop Djokovic’s Pursuit of His Historic 100th Title in Shanghai?
Novak Djokovic has long expressed his desire to make tennis history, achieving milestones such as major singles titles, weeks at No. 1 in the ATP Rankings, and an Olympic gold medal. On Sunday, he has the chance to reach another significant goal by aiming for his 100th tour-level title at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he faces World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Only Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) have reached this milestone before.
Djokovic, a four-time champion in Shanghai, feels a strong connection to the venue, stating it feels “like destiny” to compete for this title there. However, he enters the match as the underdog, a rare position for him in finals.
Sinner recently secured the ATP Year-End No. 1 title, becoming the first Italian to achieve this. At 23, he leads the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin with a substantial 3,270-point advantage over Carlos Alcaraz, which could grow to 3,620 points with a win against Djokovic, who is currently sixth. Sinner has had an exceptional season, matching his record of 64 wins from last year and has suffered only six losses, primarily against top-ranked players.
Djokovic acknowledges Sinner’s impressive form, recognizing him as a formidable opponent, especially on hard courts. They have a competitive history, with Djokovic leading their head-to-head series 4-3, although Sinner has triumphed in three of their last four encounters, including a dominant win in the Australian Open semi-finals.
Sinner, now a two-time major champion, approaches the final with confidence but respects Djokovic’s capabilities. He emphasizes the challenge of facing Djokovic, viewing it as a significant moment in his career. Both players are poised for a thrilling match as they vie for this historic title.
