By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday October 12, 2024

Novak Djokovic is one step from career title 100, but the last step will be the most difficult.

The 24-time major champion battled past Taylor Fritz, and some injury issues, on Saturday in Shanghai, saving a set point in the second set to notch a 6-4, 7-6(6) victory over the 2024 US Open finalist.

On Sunday he’ll take on newly crowned ATP year-end World No.1 Jannik Sinner for the title.

"I did come here this year with a vision, desire to get to the finals and fight for my 100th title. I get that chance against the best player in the world -- let's see what happens,” Djokovic said after the one hour and 56 minute triumph.

A four-time champion in Shanghai, Djokovic will look to snap a two-match losing streak to the 23-year-old Italian, who eased past Tomas Machac to reach the final earlier on Saturday.

Sinner famously toppled the Grand Slam king at Melbourne in January, a victory that kick-started his dominant season, 6-1 6-2 6-7(6) 6-3. The Italian would go on to win his first major title in Australia, then claim his second Slam last month at the US Open.

Sinner is 64-6 on the season and will bid for his seventh title. Djokovic, 37-8, will bid for his second title of 2024.



He was happy to escape Fritz in straight sets, as he struggled with some issues in his right leg, seemingly in the knee and hip area. He took a medical timeout at one point in the second set, but was able to finish by closing off the American in a tiebreak.

"At this stage of my career I'm doing my best to recover, I had some issues here and there on the court, physically, a little bit, yesterday and today -- I managed to overcome it,” he said.

Djokovic improves to 10-0 lifetime against the California native.

“He’s serving big, so I knew it was going to be a big test for me. I did not want to get to a third set, and I’m just glad to overcome in two,” he said.

Fritz earned only two break points across the encounter, and he couldn’t convert. He had a chance with Djokovic serving at 3-4, 15-40 in set two. Djokovic forced a forehand error on the first, and Fritz missed a backhand return wide off Djokovic’s second serve on the second.

Fritz was serving with a set point in his pocket at 6-5 in the second set tiebreak moments later, but Djokovic went into lockdown mode and drew a forehand error long from the 26-year-old.

“I think for the majority of the match today I played pretty well too, just never really came up with what I needed to come up with in a lot of big moments and the big points,” Fritz said. “He consistently came up with great serves, good shots on the big points, and I played some pretty poor ones in some big moments.”

The all-time leader in Masters 1000 titles, Djokovic is bidding for his 41st on Sunday. With a victory he would also tie Rafael Nadal on the all-time win list with 410.

Sinner holds the edge in the pair’s all-time head-to-head at 4-3 overall.