Jannik Sinner will be the first Italian to end the year as number 1 in the world rankings. After his semi-final victory over the Czech Tomas Machac at the ATP 1000 tournament in Shanghai, the South Tyrolean can no longer be displaced from the top spot.
12.10.2024, 13:43
12.10.2024, 13:46
SDA
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- Jannik Sinner remains in impressive form.
- The Italian has reached the final of the Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai and can hope to win his next major title. The final could be a top duel against Novak Djokovic.
- Regardless of whether he wins the next title, the world number one will end the year as number 1.
The Italian tennis world number one won the semi-final against outsider Tomas Machac from the Czech Republic 6:4, 7:5. Sinner will now face the winner of today's match between Novak Djokovic from Serbia and the American Taylor Fritz.
"We've all seen how much talent he has. I had to be very careful," said Sinner in view of Machac's quarter-final victory over Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
The number 30 seed Machac kept up well at first, immediately taking the favorite's serve. However, Sinner quickly equalized the score at 2:2 and benefited from several mistakes by his opponent towards the end of the set.
Curious scene
There was a curious scene in the second set at 5:4 for Sinner when the frame of Machac's racket broke and he accused his opponent of playing too fast with a wink. But even after that, Sinner from South Tyrol remained confident and decided the match in his favor after 1:42 hours.
Sinner had already won the Masters tournaments in Miami and Cincinnati this season and also secured the titles at the Australian Open and US Open. The 23-year-old will end the tennis year as number one.
"Another completely different and special feeling"
Sinner, who is the first player from his country ever to lead a world tennis ranking, has held the top spot since June 10.
Sinner's joy is correspondingly great. "It's great. As a child, you dream of becoming number one. Now to be number one at the end of the year is a completely different and special feeling."
Sinner is still facing a ban despite being acquitted after two positive doping tests. The World Anti-Doping Agency Wada recently lodged an appeal in the case with the International Court of Arbitration for Sport Cas in Lausanne.
