By Jorge Hernandez
13 Oct 2024, 16:45 PM EDT
The best tennis player of the moment, the Italian Jannik Sinner, celebrated that officially will end the year as number 1 in the world ranking winning the final of the Shanghai Masters 1,000 to the current number 4 in the table and most times champion of that tournament, the Serbian Novak Djokovic.
After winning by 7-6 (4) and 6-3 in one hour and 37 minutesSinner manages to win this trophy for the first time and adds his seventh title of the season to reach a total of 17 since he became a professional. In addition, it prevented the Serbian from adding his 100th tournament in one of his favorite stops on the circuit.
By reaching the final, Djokovic was looking for the 100th trophy of his career and his fifth in Shanghai after those in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018. The Serbian, who maintains a long love affair with Chinese fans, is followed with 3 wins by British Andy Murray, who hung up his racket this year.
“Nole” still feels capable of competing with the best in the world
The current number 4 in world tennis, the Serbian Novak Djokovicassured that, At 37 years old, he still looks at the necessary level to play against emerging figures like the Italian Jannik Sinner, who defeated him this Sunday.
“In this tournament I have been at my best level since the Olympic Games (won the gold medal in singles), and today I did the best I could considering it wasn’t 100% fresh. I played pretty well, and that makes me believe that I can still play against the best in the world at this level.”, he explained at a press conference.
“He has played the key points better than me, and that has made the difference. He has deservedly won, he has been very strong”, acknowledged the Serbian.
Asked what aspects of the Italian’s game remind him of his own, the four-time champion in Shanghai praised the improvements in his serve, his aggressiveness and, above all, the ability to “try to suffocate the opponent”: “You always want the rival feels under pressure, and he succeeds,” he concluded.
The message to Carlos Alcaraz and Roger Federer
Something that caught the attention was that at the trophy ceremony, Djokovic took the microphone and spoke directly to Carlos Alcaraz and Roger Federerwho were in the stands because they did not want to miss the game.
“Good to see you, Roger. you will understand, I wish you were on the court with us. It’s probably the first time I’ve played in front of you. I’ve had a lot of pressure today, but it’s great,” he addressed the Swiss.
Djokovic finished his speech also showing his gratitude to Alcaraz. “Carlos too. Thank you for being here and being part of this game“, he concluded.
*With information from EFE.
Keep reading:
· Novak Djokovic wins Olympic gold and reaffirms himself as the winningest tennis player in history
· Jannik Sinner defeats American Taylor Fritz and is US Open champion
· Carlos Alcaraz defeats Jannik Sinner for the third consecutive time and wins the China Open