World No.1 Jannik Sinner continued his stunning dominance on the ATP Tour by dismantling Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 6-0 at the Italian Open, extending his remarkable unbeaten streak and adding another historic milestone ahead of the French Open.
With the win, the 24-year-old became the first player in history to go 25-0 in the first five Masters 1000 events of a calendar year. His incredible run includes title triumphs in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo and Madrid, making him the hottest player on tour right now.
Sinner also extended his Masters 1000 winning streak to 30 consecutive matches, tying Novak Djokovic for the second longest streak in ATP Masters history. Only Djokovic’s legendary 31-match streak stands before him.
Sinner said the windy conditions in Rome were tricky but he adjusted well tactically, returning the second serve strongly and benefiting from Alexei Popyrin’s low first serve percentage during his dominant straight sets win.
“I felt the wind was mostly one way, so you didn’t have to change too much. But when you play in windy conditions, you try to move the ball a little bit more. I usually try to hit flatter shots against the wind,” Sinner added.
“Overall it was a very good performance from me. The conditions were difficult and he’s a big server. His first serve percentage wasn’t too high which helped me a bit. I also returned very well on my second serve so I’m extremely happy to be in the next round,” Sinner added.
Jannik Sinner is playing BEAUTIFUL tennis against Popyrin in Rome.
Fantastic strokes followed by the softest little touch.
The world No. 1 plays such perfect tennis.
pic.twitter.com/QY64zRsf6j— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 11, 2026
HOW THE SINNER SHOOT POPYRIN
Playing in front of an electric home crowd in Rome, Sinner looked untouchable from the first game. The Italians dictated the rally with brutal precision, mixing in fine drop shots and barely allowing Popyrin to breathe. The victory not only sent him into the last 16 but also underlined why he is the overwhelming favorite at Roland Garros later this month.
Backed by a packed home crowd, Sinner immediately took control of the match by breaking early in the opening set. Popyrin tried to stay aggressive, relying on his strong serve and forehand, but Sinner absorbed the pace with ease before turning defense into attack in a flash.
The first set lasted barely over half an hour, Sinner lost only two games and won most of the points on Popyrin’s second serve. As the second set began, Popyrin already looked mentally drained against the relentless pressure coming from the top-seeded team.
Sinner then completely blew the match in the second set. Popyrin broke three more times and handed the Australian a brutal bagel, finishing the match without facing any real resistance.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
11 May 2026 21:46 IST
