Shanghai Masters has been blessed with an intriguing match-up. Coming off the top of the line, Novak Djokovic has prevailed once again. Despite enduring questions about his motivation level following a heartbreaking second-round loss to Alexei Popyrin at the US Open, Nole has proved naysayers wrong. Now, Djokovic has one last contender standing in line of the Shanghai title. To pass one last test, the Serb will lock horns with Jannik Sinner in the event’s summit clash on Sunday, October 13.

Djokovic vs Sinner: Preview

Djokovic is showcasing his formidable best in Shanghai. The Serb faced threatening challenges during his campaign, but, that didn’t let him lose sight of what was at stake. Before securing a place in the title decider, Nole outclassed the USO finalist Taylor Fritz. Djokovic made short work of his American rival in the first set and later, faced major resistance from Fritz in the second. However, the veteran maintained his composure and sent his opponent packing with a score of 6-4, 7-6(6).

Meanwhile, Sinner dominated his way to the final of another tournament, after suffering a disheartening loss to arch-rival Carlos Alcaraz at the China Open earlier this month. The Italian sensation battled it out with Tomas Machac in the semifinals. Despite struggling to find his momentum at first, Sinner held his own and counterpunched his way out of the Czech player’s challenge in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6(3).

Djokovic vs Sinner: Head-to-Head

Both players will lock horns for a record eighth time on the ATP Tour. Their last recorded clash came at the Australian Open SF, where Sinner prevailed en route to his maiden Grand Slam glory in Melbourne. However, Djokovic leads the Italian 4-3 in their overall head-to-head tally.

• 2024 Australian Open, SF: Sinner 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3
• 2023 Davis Cup Finals, SF: Sinner 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
• 2023 Nitto ATP Finals, Final: Djokovic 6-3, 6-3
• 2023 Nitto ATP Finals, Round Robin: Sinner 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2)
• 2023 Wimbledon, SF: Djokovic 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4)
• 2022 Wimbledon, QF: Djokovic 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
• 2021 Monte-Carlos, R32: Djokovic 6-4, 6-2

Prediction: Djokovic to win in three sets

Flaunting his Lacoste all-green tracksuit, it’ll be a mistake to skip adding that Novak Djokovic arrived at the Shanghai Masters in style. Despite facing a Grand Slam title deficit this season, the Serb concluded his long-standing quest of fetching the elusive Olympic gold in Paris. Other than that, his sole noteworthy result came at Wimbledon, where he made it to the final, but lost the title to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz for the second consecutive year. However, putting such hard losses behind him, Nole is targeting his fifth overall win in Shanghai and, with it, a career 100th ATP crown.

Quick off the baseline and known to be a heavy hitter, Djokovic packs a wallop. His counter-punching game style helps him dominate his rivals from a commanding position. Moreover, with the added benefit of his volley-making skills and jaw-dropping endurance, the Serb doesn’t give up points easily. In his last contest, the 24-time Major winner fired 7 aces against Taylor Fritz, all the while securing 70% of wins on his first serve.

‘Italy’s golden boy’ Jannik Sinner, on the other hand, has continued his stellar run this season. The young talent achieved several feats this year, including the ones where he clinched his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open and later, bagged the US Open crown. Moreover, the Italian star surfed quite seamlessly on tour-level events, pocketing triumphs in Halle and Cincinnati. However, Sinner’s resume has been controversy-marred this year. With fans taking shots due to his ongoing doping saga and candid admission on ATP’s hectic calendar, the top seed has had better days in the sport, especially off-court.

A powerful baseliner, known for his elite backhand, Sinner extracts the worst out of his opponents by engaging them in long rallies. With his speedy on-court movements, the 23-year-old seldom faces issues when reaching for tough shots. His semifinal showdown witnessed him register 77% of wins on his first serve, but, caught him lacking on his second with merely 65% of wins.

In summary, Sinner and Djokovic won’t throw in the towel without first showcasing their athletic prowess. However, with the Serb in the form and reaching to grab better results, the Shanghai title decider should see Djokovic emerge victorious.