Analysis of Djokovic vs Sinner, final of the Shanghai Masters 1000 2024

Óscar Belloch | 12 Oct 2024 | 20.43

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner. Photo: Getty

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Few finals can be better than one between the current world number 1 and the player considered the best in history. In this ATP Shanghai 2024, the final between Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic will once again captivate all the spotlight in the world of sports. Will the Serbian be able to open his Masters 1000 trophy cabinet this season? The Italian is aware of his great form, so he will aim to deprive Nole of the trophy and show why he is at the top of the rankings.

Novak Djokovic leads their head-to-head by 4-3, but out of the last four matches, he has only won one. The most recent defeat was probably the most painful, as Jannik Sinner gave him a tennis lesson in one of Nole's favorite tournaments, the Australian Open. Djokovic arrived at this ATP Shanghai 2024 somewhat lacking the motivation to keep winning titles, but in a Masters 1000 final, he probably has a lot to say. As for Sinner, it has already been confirmed that he will finish this year as the undisputed leader of the rankings, and his off-court controversies with the doping case, still lingering, do not prevent him from unleashing his full potential on the court.

- Nole's Challenge

Undoubtedly, the biggest challenge in today's tennis is to disconcert Sinner, and even more so, to defeat him. The Italian is one of those players who are not at all affected by external matters when stepping on the court. It is entirely admirable, as many others struggle when facing personal issues, making it impossible to perform at their best. For Jannik, it seems to further motivate him to be better and prove that he can handle everything, and everyone.

Only four men (Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and Stefanos Tsitsipas) have managed to defeat Sinner in 2024. Djokovic, undoubtedly, could be the next one, but he must leave behind the instability he has shown in recent matches, regain that tenacity and motivation to beat the world number 1 and manage the game through the effectiveness of his first serve, something that did not happen in their last encounter at the Australian Open. If Nole wants chances against someone like Sinner, who has lost only one match out of his last 21, he must become that 'jackal' again who devours his rivals in crucial points, forcing short points and returning aggressively and at the feet, particularly when the Italian plays the point with a second serve. If Djokovic manages to orchestrate every point, he can overpower Sinner.

- All Pressure on Sinner

Although it may sound strange, all the pressure in this match is on Sinner. Nole has already started to relieve himself of it in the press conference prior to the semifinals, stating that "I cannot be favored against the best player in the world", and also, he has some problems in his left knee for which he has had to be treated in the last two matches. However, Jannik has the opportunity to control the match because if he physically forces the Serbian to keep running throughout the game, he will have many chances. The Italian arrives better prepared, more experienced, and with a game that surprises due to the authority he exudes, so removing absolutely everything and opening up the court can be what makes the difference. He will also need a good percentage of first serves and show that he is in better shape than Nole from the baseline since if he displays his maximum level, both in forehand and backhand, he will prove why he is the current world number 1.

You can also watch the analysis in video format from the official YouTube channel of Puntodebreak.