Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner put on quite the show earlier today, but in the end, youth triumphed.
It marked the Italian’s third straight win over the 24-time Grand Slam champion, emphasising how there really has been a changing of the guards across the last year.
With two Grand Slam titles won, amongst numerous other events, 2024 has been the best year of his young career thus far.
However, Novak Djokovic remained magnanimous in defeat as the Shanghai Masters concluded, and supremely complimentary of Jannik Sinner.
Novak Djokovic sends message to Roger Federer
Always a good sport, and gracious in defeat however infrequent it may have been over his career, the Serbian superstar was in good spirits after the match had concluded.
After all, he put in a good fight, and had he won that first-set tiebreak, anything really could have happened.
He was serving supremely well, and moved smoothly despite physical ailments.
And, he did so with a few star-studded onlookers, with Carlos Alcaraz, Juan Carlos Ferrero and Roger Federer all in attendance.
Djokovic had a message for the latter in his post-match speech, stating: ‘It’s nice to see Roger. I’m not used to seeing you in the stands, I wish you were on the court playing with us.
‘It’s probably the first time that I’m playing in front of you so I had an added pressure today but it’s great, thanks for being here, and Carlos as well.’
Jannik Sinner was just too good in Shanghai Masters final
Unfortunately for Djokovic, the wait for this elusive 100th title will go on.
On the day, Sinner was simply just too good.
The power he generates in his groundstrokes is remarkable, pummelling the ball from every angle.
It’s a wonder how anyone can compete with the intensity and consistency he manages.
Djokovic will come again, as he always does, and surely a fresh triumph is not far away at all.
But, he faces an almighty task to now complete with Sinner and Alcaraz, who have swiftly formed a duopoly over tennis as the big three’s influence has waned.
It’s quite poetic that, just days after Rafa Nadal announced his retirement, Federer watched Djokovic lose again this year.
This is a new era of tennis now, with a 23-year-old and a 21-year-old at the forefront.
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