Jannik Sinner secured the world No. 1 men’s tennis rankings at the end of the year by beating Czech 30th seed Tomas Machac 6-4, 7-5 in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters, completing a year close in which the Italian has won two grand slam titles.

Machac made a promising start by winning the first two games before Sinner got on the board, with the top seed turning the set around before wrapping it up in 44 minutes as his opponent started making mistakes. Ultimately, Sinner proved too solid for his fellow 23-year-old, making just nine unforced errors to seal his 64th win of the year.

Sinner’s dominant season saw him win the Australian Open and the US Open. He is the first Italian to end the year as world number 1 and the first man from his country to reach the final in Shanghai.

“It’s something you dream about as a child, when you’re young. Just to reach the number 1 position now, but to experience the end of the year – it is also a different and special feeling,” said Sinner. “But this happened during the tournament. So I don’t even think about that. I know tomorrow will be an important day, but it obviously means so much to me”

Sinner will face Novak Djokovic in the final after the 24-time major winner defeated Taylor Fritz in the second semi-final. Djokovic moved one step closer to his 100th ATP title with his 6-4, 7-6 (6) win at No. 7.

There was only one break of service in the match, with Djokovic breaking Fritz on the second call to take a decisive lead in the first set. In the second set, the 37-year-old dealt with a hip problem, but he got through it before winning the tiebreak.

“I definitely came here this year with the vision or desire to reach the final and fight for 100 titles,” Djokovic said. “I have that opportunity against the best player in the world and let’s see what happens.”

At the Wuhan Open, the reigning champion, Aryna Sabalenka, fought back from a stumble in the first set to defeat Coco Gauff 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 in their semi-final. The 26-year-old now has the chance to win the tournament – which was last held in 2019 – for the third time in a row.

Gauff, who has made some grip changes with a new coach in Matt Daly, was undermined by 21 double faults, allowing Sabalenka to turn the tide after losing the first set.

Initially, Sabalenka struggled against the power of the world number 4, with the Belarusian struggling to control her returns when the American got the first serve right, repeatedly overshooting the lines or finding the net. Former US Open champion Gauff broke twice to build a 5-0 lead as Sabalenka could only hold once in the first set.

Sabalenka started the second set aggressively and began to find success while Gauff struggled to hold her own serve.

Nervous second serves saw the double faults pile up quickly and Sabalenka was able to build pressure by leaning on her power play, winning four games in a row to take the second set 6-4.

In the third set, Sabalenka led 4-1 before Gauff rallied to break and cut the score to 4-4. However, Sabalenka took control again and got another break to win the match.

The Belarusian will face Zheng Qinwen, who won Olympic gold in Paris this year after beating her compatriot Wang Xinyu 6-3, 6-4 in the all-Chinese semi-final.

“I am very happy to be in the final. One more to go and I will do everything I can to win this beautiful trophy for the third time,” said Sabalenka. “It will be a great match.”