As Carlos Alcaraz recovers from injury and Novak Djokovic struggles with form, Jannik Sinner has become the center of attention in the tennis world.
At the ongoing Italian Open in Rome, Sinner breezed past Jordan Thompson 6-2, 6-0 in the third round, securing his 30th consecutive Masters 1000 victory. That surpasses Roger Federer’s 29-match streak and leaves him just one win shy of Novak Djokovic’s all-time record of 31.
Sinner has now won his last five Masters tournaments, and is chasing a sixth title in Rome. Looking nearly unbeatable on clay, he edges closer to his Grand Slam dream.
A Relaxed Victory Over Federer’s Record
Facing world No. 60 Bernabe Zapata Miralles, Sinner made it look effortless. After taking the first set 6-2, he cruised to a 6-0 second set, wrapping up the match in straight sets.
The Italian played like a perfectly tuned winning machine: 20 winners to 7, 12 unforced errors against 21, and only one unforced error on his backhand side.
“I played very well today,” Sinner said after the match. “My opponent has a strong serve, but his first-serve percentage wasn’t high, which helped me. I was able to do well on second serves.”
“Sometimes you get into the rhythm quickly, sometimes not. I tend to be more nervous early in a tournament, because you don’t know how your technique, mind, and body will respond. But as the event goes on, I enjoy it more and more.”
Currently, Sinner is enjoying a remarkable run. He has won four consecutive Masters titles this season, with only two matches going to a third set—against Jakub Mensik in Monte Carlo and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Madrid. Combined with his victory in Paris last year, he has now achieved five straight Masters titles, a feat unprecedented in tennis history. And he shows no signs of stopping.
With 30 consecutive Masters wins, Sinner has surpassed Roger Federer’s 29, moving into second place on the all-time list, behind only Novak Djokovic’s 31. Given his current form, few can stop him from rewriting history.
On home soil in Rome, the crowd eagerly backs Sinner.
No Strongest Opponent: Is He Unstoppable?
In the Monte Carlo final, Sinner defeated his rival Carlos Alcaraz 7-6, 6-3. Then in Madrid, he cruised past Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2.
Now in Rome, the Italian is the overwhelming favorite. Despite the physical toll of chasing consecutive titles, he remains hungry for more achievements. “I want to push myself and see where my limits are,” he said. “Sometimes there’s soreness, fatigue, or pressure, but that’s normal. I try to stay positive and keep going.”
Sinner currently leads the world rankings with 13,800 points, nearly 2,000 ahead of second-place Alcaraz and over 8,000 ahead of third-place Zverev. His lead seems unassailable.
With Alcaraz, his toughest rival, sidelined by injury, Sinner appears poised to dominate. After withdrawing from Barcelona, Alcaraz announced he would miss the French Open due to a right wrist injury. So in Rome and Roland Garros, fans are left with Sinner alone. Djokovic, ranked No. 4, was knocked out in the second round by a qualifier after a first-round bye.
Finding a player who can stop Sinner’s march has become a daunting task. Even more frighteningly, despite being widely recognized as the world’s best, Sinner remains hungry for victory.
“His brain works like a computer during matches,” said Sinner’s coach, Cahill, in an interview with Italian media. “He plays with confidence, calculating the lowest-risk shot to win a point. That’s a champion’s trait.”
“Sinner has grown and matured a lot over the past few years, controlling himself better both on and off the court. Every time he steps on the court, his goal is to improve and grow.”
After winning the Australian Open this year, Alcaraz became the youngest male player to complete a career Grand Slam. Now, as the French Open approaches, Sinner—seemingly invincible—is closing in on his own Grand Slam dream.
Who can topple him? That’s the biggest question in tennis right now.