SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 12: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic takes a shot back in men’s singles … (+)
Getty Images
Novak Djokovic has reached the Shanghai Masters final and is one win away from winning his 100th career title.
With a 6-4, 7-6 (6) victory over US Open runner-up Taylor Fritz, the 37-year-old Serbian advanced to Sunday’s final against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Sinner first defeated Tomas Machak 6-4, 7-5.
Djokovic improved to 10-0 against Fritz.
Djokovic and Sinner have a 4-3 record, but Sinner has won three of their last four matches, including a victory in the Australian Open semifinals that ended Djokovic’s winning streak Down Under at 33.
A victory over Sinner would give Djokovic his 100th career title. Only Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) have surpassed the 100-title plateau.
Djokovic continues to break records even though longtime rival Rafael Nadal announced this week that he would retire at next month’s Davis Cup final in Spain.
Djokovic, who will be playing the tournament in China for the first time since 2019, is aiming for a record-extending fifth Shanghai Masters title, having previously won in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018.
The Serbian player has won a total of 11 titles in China, including six at the China Open in Beijing, and won his first crown at the ATP Finals in Shanghai in 2008. Obtained. Djokovic also won a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
SHANGHAI, CHINA – OCTOBER 12: USA’s Taylor Fritz gets a shot back in men’s singles … (+)
Getty Images
With Fritz leading 6-5 in the second set, Djokovic took a medical timeout and had a trainer work on his left hip.
After that, she was at a 0-30 disadvantage on serve, but won four points in a row to force a tie-break.
Djokovic hit a forehand wide on the breaker and went down 2-4.
With Djokovic’s serve at 5-5, he sent a forehand wide to give him a set point on Fritz’s serve. But the American hit a deep forehand to make it 6-all.
During a long rally on the next point, Fritz had a chance for an overhead putaway, but Djokovic recovered it and brought it back into play, with Fritz making a forehand mistake and giving Djokovic match point at 7-6. Ta.
Fritz hit a forehand lob long on match point, and the two hugged at the net.
Gauff double faults on match point against Sabalenka
Wuhan, China – October 12: Aryna Sabalenka celebrates defeating USA’s Coco Gauff … (+)
Getty Images
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka came back from a 1-6, 2-4 deficit to defeat Coco Gauff 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the final in Wuhan.
Gauff, who won last week’s China Open, committed a season-high 21 double faults, including one on match point. The loss ended the American’s winning streak at nine.
“That’s how I was playing that game, girl, I feel you,” Sabalenka said, referring to her serving problems two seasons ago. “You feel like you’re not like anyone else. I know what she’s going through. This is really hard. This is really hard. But if she does this serve… I know she’s already one of the best players, but I’m sure she’ll be one of the greatest if she can overcome that situation.”
“I was trying to put as much pressure on her as possible to make her go even crazier on her serve.”
Sabalenka, a two-time defending champion, has improved to 16-0 in Wuhan since her debut in 2018.
On Sunday, Sabalenka will aim to win her fourth WTA title this season and 17th overall. Sabalenka won the Australian Open in January and has been in good form since the Cincinnati Open in August. She has won 19 of her past 20 matches, reached the final or better in three of her past four tournaments, and won Cincinnati and the U.S. Open. A win in Wuhan would give her two WTA 1000 titles in one season for the first time in her career.
Sabalenka will face either 7th place Zheng Qinwen or 51st place Wang Xinyu in the final.
