World No. 1 Jannik Sinner continued his dominant run at the Italian Open this week, securing a straight-sets victory over fellow Italian Andrea Pellegrino. With a 6-2, 6-3 win on Tuesday, Sinner has officially equaled Novak Djokovic's record of 31 consecutive wins in Masters 1000 matches.
Sinner's remarkable streak in Masters 1000 events dates back to last October, following a retirement due to cramps in a match against Tallon Griekspoor in Shanghai. The benchmark he has now reached was previously set by Djokovic during his legendary 2011 season.
Reflecting on his success, Sinner emphasized the importance of mental fortitude and versatility. If you want to be a great player, you've got to play on all the surfaces and all the tournaments at your maximum,
Sinner stated. It's the mind that makes the difference.
The atmosphere at Campo Centrale in Foro Italico was electric, with a capacity crowd largely dressed in Sinner's signature orange. The top seed maintained total control from the start, breaking Pellegrino's serve in the opening game and never relinquishing the lead. This victory improves Sinner's record against his compatriots to a perfect 19-0.
Beyond the Masters record, Sinner's overall winning streak has now extended to 26 matches. The 23-year-old has remained unbeaten since February 19, when he fell to Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.
The stakes in Rome are now higher than ever. If Sinner clinches the Italian Open trophy this Sunday, he will become only the second man in history, after Novak Djokovic, to win all nine Masters 1000 tournaments. Having already claimed five consecutive Masters titles, Sinner enters the final stages of the tournament as the clear favorite, especially with Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by a right wrist injury.
The victory also brings Sinner closer to ending a 50-year drought for Italian men in Rome. Fans are eager to see him take the title away from Adriano Panatta, the last Italian man to win the singles crown in the capital. Panatta is expected to present the trophy following the final match.
Sinner's path to the title continues with a quarterfinal clash against 12th-seeded Andrey Rublev, who advanced after a hard-fought victory over Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Reference(s):
Italian Open: Sinner ties Djokovic with 31 straight Masters match wins
cgtn.com
