Top-ranked Jannik Sinner is poised to claim his seventh ATP title of the year and secure the ATP year-end No. 1 ranking after defeating Tomas Machac in the Shanghai Masters semifinals. Sinner’s victory marks a historic achievement for Italy, making him the first Italian to hold the year-end No. 1 spot.
The Italian maestro weathered a fierce challenge from Machac, who had upset No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. Sinner’s relentless baseline play and efficient performance, characterized by 10 aces and 28 winners, proved too much for his opponent.
In the final, Sinner will face either four-time Shanghai champion Novak Djokovic or seventh-ranked Taylor Fritz. Djokovic holds a commanding 9-0 head-to-head record against Fritz, but the American has shown impressive form in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, in the women’s semifinals, second-ranked Aryna Sabalenka rallied from a slow start to defeat Coco Gauff in three sets. Sabalenka’s victory extends her perfect record at the Wuhan Open and sets up a final clash against either seventh-ranked Zheng Qinwen or No. 51-ranked Wang Xinyu.
Sabalenka’s triumph ended Gauff’s nine-match winning streak, which included the China Open title last week. The Belarussian’s resilience and determination proved crucial in overcoming Gauff’s early dominance.
The Shanghai Masters and Wuhan Open finals promise to deliver thrilling tennis action, with top players vying for prestigious titles and valuable ranking points.
