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Jannik Sinner has made tennis history in Rome by surpassing Novak Djokovic's record for consecutive match wins at ATP Masters 1000 events, extending his streak to 32 victories after reaching the Italian Open semi-finals.
The world number one delivered another commanding performance, defeating 12th seed Andrey Rublev 6-2 6-4 to maintain his extraordinary run and move closer to joining Djokovic as only the second player to win all nine Masters 1000 tournaments, the tier just below the Grand Slams.
At 24, Sinner is producing dominant form at the perfect time, with the French Open set to begin on 24 May. That tournament represents the final piece needed for him to complete a career Grand Slam, a milestone achieved by only a handful of players in the sport's history.
His consistency has placed him alongside Rafael Nadal as the only men to reach the semi-finals of all five Masters 1000 events in a single season. He now prepares to face either Daniil Medvedev or Spanish qualifier Martin Landaluce for a place in the final.
Despite the records falling around him, Sinner insisted his focus remains personal rather than statistical. Speaking after his win, he said he is focused on his own journey and not chasing milestones, even though he acknowledged their importance. He added that each match presents a new challenge, especially under different conditions in Rome's night sessions. He also noted that recovery is now his priority as the physical demands increase, while playing at home brings emotional intensity.
Sinner's winning run has been staggering. He has won 45 of his last 47 matches across all competitions since his most recent Masters 1000 defeat, which came when he retired injured in Shanghai. Since then, he has captured titles in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, Madrid, and Paris, dropping just two sets across those events, winning 64 of the 66 sets played.
His Madrid triumph made him the first player ever to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles, a record he has quickly extended to a 32-match streak. Across his career, he now holds 121 wins from 150 ATP Masters matches, second only to Rafael Nadal's 123 victories since the format began in 1990.
With two more wins, Sinner could become the first Italian man in 50 years to lift the Rome trophy, a feat last achieved by Adriano Panatta.
