Sinner seals year-end top spot

SHANGHAI, Oct 12 (Agencies): Jannik Sinner beat Tomas Machac 6-4, 7-5 to reach the Shanghai Masters final on Saturday and ensure he finishes the year as world number one.

The 23-year-old has been in top spot since June and after his ruthless semi-final victory will stay there until at least the end of the season, the first Italian to do so.

Following his semi-final win at the Shanghai Masters, Sinner has clinched the ATP year-end No. 1 ranking, becoming the first Italian to achieve the feat.

Sinner became the first man or woman from Italy to reach World No. 1 in singles since computerised rankings were introduced in 1973. He has not relinquished his place since and will retain it at least through the end of the season.

"It was only a dream just to become number one... Now finishing (the year there) is also a different feeling," the Italian said.

"It's a good feeling. I'm very happy to achieve this. It was an amazing season for me and it's not finished yet," he said, adding that for now he was "focused on tomorrow".

The 23-year-old is the 19th player to claim year-end World No. 1 and just the fourth active player, joining Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz.

Sinner's meeting with Machac got off to an electric start when the Czech broke in the first game of their semi-final.

The 33rd-ranked Machac was looking to repeat his giant-slaying of Thursday, when he knocked out world number two Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.

But two-time Grand Slam champion Sinner kept his cool to break back in the fourth, then claimed the tenth game to clinch the set.

In the second set neither was able to break serve until the 12th game, when the Italian hit a winner to book his place in Sunday's final.

"It was very tough... he is playing with so much confidence and he can hit a ball really hard, and is serving very well," said Sinner.

"I tried to stay there mentally... I'm very happy about how I'm fighting at the moment."