Jannik Sinner progressed to the final of the Shanghai Masters after beating Tomas Machac, but he needed to work hard to overcome his impressive opponent.
Sinner's superb level throughout the season is well-known. This year's Australian and US Open champion will finish as the year-end world No. 1 after playing outstanding tennis throughout the season.
The Italian was outlasted by Carlos Alcaraz in a brutal China Open final last week, but that has not stopped his momentum. He responded by getting straight back to work and reaching the semifinal in Shanghai.
However, Sinner knew not to be complacent against Machac. The Czech produced a stunning performance to shock Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinal, which ensured Sinner would end the year at No. 1.
Machac's clean-hitting makes him capable of competing against anybody on the ATP Tour when he is at his best. The fans were treated to excellent tennis during an entertaining match in Shanghai.
The lower-ranked player made a fast start to the match, breaking Sinner in the opening game with some sharp returning before comfortably holding to take an early 2-0 lead.
As always, Sinner did not panic and responded by breaking back to make it 2-2. The intensity of the rallies between the two men was highly impressive, with the two-time Grand Slam winner needing to play near his best.
Machac fended off two break points to level the set at 3-3 before Sinner came through a long service game afterward. Further holds of serve left the Czech serving to stay in the set at 4-5 down.
Sinner then made his move. Despite Machac continuing to rally impressively, the world No. 1 upped his game to strike when it mattered the most, breaking for a second time to seal the opening set 6-4.
Both men served impressively in the second set. There were no breaks in the opening eight games, with Machac, in particular, upping his level off that shot and making Sinner raise his game further.
The first spell of significant pressure came at 4-4. Machac had two opportunities to break during a long game, but in characteristic fashion, Sinner stayed tough and managed to hold to go 5-4 up.
That gave the world No. 1 the opportunity to try and break at the same stage as the opening set. Sinner won the opening point of the game, but Machac responded strongly to hold for 5-5.
However, Machac unexpectedly capitulated in his next service game. He was 30-0 up, and it looked like a tiebreak to decide the second set was inevitable.
But a series of unforced errors gave Sinner four consecutive points, confirming a 6-4, 7-5 triumph and Sinner's place in the final of the Shanghai Masters after another solid performance.
Sinner is one victory away from securing his third Masters-1000 title of the season after beating Machac. The 23-year-old triumphed at the Miami and the Canadian Open earlier in the year.
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