Jannik Sinner is rewriting the history books in Rome. The Italian world number one has shattered Novak Djokovic's all-time record for consecutive match wins at ATP Masters 1000 tournaments, notching his 32nd straight victory to storm into the Italian Open semi-finals.
Facing 12th seed Andrey Rublev, Sinner was in imperious form, dismantling the Russian 6-2, 6-4 on home soil. The win keeps alive his bid to become only the second man—after Djokovic himself—to capture all nine Masters 1000 titles, the sport's most prestigious prizes outside the Grand Slams.
At 24, Sinner looks unstoppable just weeks before the French Open begins on 24 May. Roland Garros is the only major missing from his collection, and if his current form is any guide, a career Grand Slam is well within reach.
His run in Rome also sees him join Rafael Nadal as the only other man to reach the semi-finals at each of the first five Masters 1000 events in a single season. Next up is either Daniil Medvedev or Spanish lucky loser Martin Landaluce for a place in the final.
"I don't play for records. I play just for my own story," Sinner told the crowd after the match. "At the same time, it means a lot to me. But tomorrow is another opponent, in different conditions—it's a night match. Now the highest priority for me is trying to recover as much as I can physically. Emotionally it takes a lot playing here at home. At the same time, I'll definitely try to do my best. It's a win-win situation for me in any case. It was a good day today."
Behind the numbers, the dominance is staggering. Sinner has won 45 of his last 47 matches across all tournaments since his last Masters 1000 defeat, when he retired from his third-round match in Shanghai. During his record-breaking streak, he has triumphed in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, and Madrid this year alone, following his Paris victory in November. He has won 64 of the 66 sets he has contested in that span.
With his Madrid title earlier this month, Sinner became the first player in history to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles. Just two weeks later, he's closing in on a sixth. While he may not have records at the forefront of his mind, his achievements continue to draw comparisons with the all-time greats.
Overall, he has claimed 121 wins from 150 matches at ATP 1000 level—a testament to his relentless rise. Whether he's chasing history or just his own story, one thing is clear: Jannik Sinner is playing tennis at a level few have ever reached.