Novak Djokovic admits what Jannik Sinner was much better than him at during the Shanghai Masters final

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Novak Djokovic fell just short in his efforts to win a 100th tour-level title as he lost out to Jannik Sinner in the Shanghai Masters final.

Djokovic has congratulated Sinner on his victory, with the Italian winning their Shanghai Masters encounter 7-6(7-4), 6-3.

Roger Federer and Carlos Alcaraz attended the final, undoubtedly piling the pressure on both competitors.

But Sinner dealt with their presence well, producing many powerful and precise shots to edge past the Serbian.

The world number one now has seven tour-level titles for the season, and has extended his lead in the year-end rankings.

Novak Djokovic makes Jannik Sinner admission after Shanghai Masters final

Italian star Sinner now sits well ahead of Alcaraz in second, with Djokovic occupying sixth place after his strong run in Shanghai.

As per Tennis TV, the 24-time Grand Slam champion has since analysed the match, saying: “I did my best tonight.

“Under the circumstances I maybe didn’t feel 100% fresh but at the same time big credit for Jannik for playing the big points better than me. That’s what made the difference.

READ MORE: Who is Novak Djokovic? Step inside the life of the 24-time Grand Slam champion

“He deserved to win. He was too strong in the important moments but nevertheless I still think in the final I played pretty good.

“That gives me reason to believe I can still play with these guys who are the best in the world at this level. Hopefully I can maintain that level in the upcoming months and also for the future.”

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are the present and future

While Djokovic is still a fierce competitor and real threat, Sinner and Alcaraz are undoubtedly the two main stars of the sport in terms of success, having dominated the scene in 2024.

Most importantly, their success has not been limited to minor events, with the duo sharing the Grand Slam honours.

The Italian won both the Australian Open and the US Open, with the Spaniard winning the French Open and Wimbledon in between.

READ MORE: Who is Jannik Sinner? Everything you need to know about the Italian tennis star and his rise to the top

Moreover, they have also developed a fantastic rivalry, and it is one that is certain to continue for many years to come.

China Open fans saw that exciting tussle up close earlier this month, with Alcaraz beating Sinner in the Beijing final.