Jannik Sinner has reached a new stratosphere in men’s tennis, producing a season of unrelenting dominance that has now allowed him to eclipse Novak Djokovic’s long-standing Masters 1000 record. The world number one extended his Masters winning streak to a record 32 consecutive victories, surpassing Djokovic’s previous best of 31 and leaving behind legends such as Roger Federer (29) and Rafael Nadal (23) in total order.
The milestone came during his last wave in Rome, where Sinner defeated Andrey Rublev to secure a place in the semi-finals of the Italian Open. On Thursday 14 May, he needed just one hour and 31 minutes to secure the quarter-finals 6-2, 6-4 at Campo Centrale.
After the victory, Sinner reiterated that he is not chasing records, but focusing on his own path. Emphasizing recovery as a top priority ahead of his next game, he highlighted the emotional challenge of the competition at home and described it as a “win-win” day after a good performance.
“I’m not playing for records. I’m just playing for my own story. At the same time, it means a lot to me, but tomorrow is another opponent. We’re going to play in different conditions. It’s going to be a night game. We’ll see. The top priority for me right now is to try to recover as much as I can physically,” Sinner said.
“We’ll see how it goes. Emotionally, he wants to play a lot here at home. At the same time, I’ll definitely try to do my best. We’ll see how it goes. In any case, it’s a win-win situation for me. Today was a good day,” he added.
The moment Sinner broke Djokovic’s record for the longest winning streak in Masters history
– 32
Djokovic – 31
Djokovic – 30
Federer – 29
Still – 23
It took a once-in-a-lifetime player to break Novak’s record
That’s exactly what Jannik is
pic.twitter.com/8SGN6Xbo7Z— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 14, 2026
HOW THE SINNER TOOK RUBLEV
Sinner dictated the game from the start with deep and heavy shots that pushed Rublev beyond the baseline. The Russian tried to push through with his signature forehand power, but Sinner’s defensive excellence and ability to redirect the pace kept neutralizing the threat. The key moments came on the return, where Sinner repeatedly targeted Rublev’s second serve to create early break opportunities.
Once Sinner is in control, he never lets go. With depth, variations and sharp angles, he disrupted Rublev’s rhythm and forced errors from the backhand wing. Although Rublev looked to increase his aggression in the second set, Sinner’s first-serve efficiency and calm decision-making under pressure kept him firmly in front.
The victory also moved Sinner within touching distance of the rare Career Golden Masters milestone, achieved by winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 events. He is now just two wins away from becoming only the second player in history after Djokovic to complete the set, further underscoring the extent of his dominance on the ATP Tour.
– The end
Issued by:
sabyasachi chowdhury
Published on:
14 May 2026 19:26 IST
