Djokovic lands a couple of blows on the first Sinner service game, replying well to the Italian’s forehand angle to force the miss.

It brings up 40-30, but Sinner angles a lovely backhand. Djokovic nets on the stretch. We’ve still yet to see a deuce point.

Sinner will serve first to start this second set.

Djokovic’s return floats wide and Sinner wraps up the first set with a very impressive tiebreak! Sure, that volley will haunt Djokovic, but the way the Italian elevated his game at the start of the decider was key, winning five of the first six points.

Sinner won 81 per cent of his first serve points (21/26) and the 23-year-old looked so steady even as the first set remained tight. There wasn’t a lot in it but the World No 1 leads after 55 minutes of this Shanghai Masters final.

Sinner has two balls in hand and could almost wrap up this tiebreak here. Brilliant direction from Sinner, steering the backhand onto the line from the middle of the baseline! 5-1 to Sinner.

Finally Sinner is pushed into the error on the forehand. Djokovic took a deep breath there and hit boldly for the lines. He gets his reward as Sinner pushes long. 5-2.

Stunner of a point from Djokovic, pushing Sinner deep behind his forehand before landing a lovely drop-volley. 5-3.

HUGE MISS! I can’t believe it! Djokovic was in control behind his serve but nets on the volley! As simple a volley as you could ask for! That brings up set point. 6-3.

Sinner, though, nets on the backhand. He’ll have another set point behind serve… 6-4.

Winner from Sinner! He breaks Djokovic’s run of points on serve with a lovely backhand pass down the line, stretching down low and sliding into the shot! 0-1.

How key could that be? Sinner thumps an ace out wide, his sixth of the match. And that’s another scorcher from Sinner, a huge forehand driven down the line! 0-3 already to Sinner.

Wow. Djokovic nets on the forehand, after Sinner dialled up the pressure in the rally. Suddenly Djokovic is falling onto his first serve. But he steadies with the forehand attack. 1-4 to Sinner.

Sinner steers a lovely backhand winner up the line to jump into a 30-0 lead. The Italian then recovers from a drop-shot drooped into the net with a thumping ace out wide.

That’s excellent from Djokovic, returning with real intent before stepping in to put away the drive volley. He’s asking the question of Sinner.

But the serve is so strong, out wide from Sinner, and Djokovic is set running onto his forehand. He can only net.

So onto a tiebreak we go. This final has been so serve dominant. Who will get the upper hand in the decider?

Sinner has won eight of his last nine, Djokovic has won five from five at this tournament.

So strong from Djokovic behind serve. He makes it 12 points from 12 in a row over the last three service games to reach the tiebreak at least.

Sinner will serve next to join him there.

For the first time this match, Djokovic wins a point against Sinner’s first serve. He chips the return at the Italian, before landing a tricky backhand into his feet. He can’t make the pick-up volley

Sinner then nets on the run, which brings up 0-30! A chance here for Djokovic.

Sinner, though, lands two big serves in a row, the first out wide and the second down the middle. Djokovic can just about get a racket onto them but can’t return.

30-30. Djokovic blocks the return but Sinner finds a stunning angle behind his forehand, driving towards the line. Djokovic reaches it but Sinner puts away the smash.

What a hold from Sinner. He finds another first serve, this time out wide, and wins four points in a row from 0-30 down.

Another love-hold from Djokovic, his second in a row. Sinner will serve to stay in the set next.

We’re edging closer to a tiebreak. Sinner has a remarkable record in tiebreaks so far this season, but he did lose the deciding tiebreak in the China Open final against Carlos Alcaraz two weeks ago.

Sinner is serving at less than 50% but he is looking so dominant when his first serve lands, winning 11 of his first 11 points.

Djokovic’s serve percentage is higher, up at 80%, which is keeping Sinner at bay. The Italian has eight winners to Djokovic’s four so far, and has the slight edge in the rallies.