Rewriting tennis history before our eyes.
Jannik Sinner won the Mutua Madrid Open title on Sunday to achieve something that has never been done before in professional tennis. The Italian has become the first player to lift five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 trophies, thus consolidating his position at the top of the tour, where he is collecting trophies at a frightening rate.
His 28th ATP Tour title was claimed with total dominance in the Manolo Santana Stadium, where he dismantled two-time champion Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 in a match he controlled from the outset. The Italian immediately seized the psychological advantage, racing to an unassailable 5-0 lead in just 20 minutes. The German, erratic whenever he advanced to the net in an attempt to stem the tide, found himself up against an impenetrable wall.
“There’s a lot of work behind this”, Sinner said as he reflected on his achievement. “A great deal of dedication and sacrifice every day. Obviously, it means a lot to me to see these results. At some point, it will come to an end, that’s normal”.
“I’m happy I keep believing in myself. Every day, in every training session, I’m committed to doing the right things with the right discipline. To do that, you need the right team around you, and I have that. I’m very happy, also for my team. This means a lot to all of us”.
Although the Caja Magica had set the scene for a mouth-watering showdown, with the two top seeds vying for the title for the first time in a decade, it took time for the equilibrium to emerge on court. The mental blow of the opening set was notable as he faced one of his toughest opponents. Jannik had defeated him in the first three Masters 1000s of the year, a fact that was clearly playing on the German’s mind throughout this final.
The dynamic of the tournament also meant Sinner came into the match brimming with confidence. The Italian’s nerves of steel allowed him to book his place in the final without dropping a set in the previous two rounds. Mastering his serve would be crucial for Zverev, who was to try and inject something extra into one of his most potent weapons in search of a way through. However, Jannik’s reflexes were up to anything his opponent could throw at him.
The top seed relentlessly tested Zverev’s patience, blocking countless serves and opening up the court with his backhand down the line. This shot, constantly testing Zverev’s forehand on the stretch, ultimately broke down his defences in the second set. Sinner capitalised on all four break points he created in the match and never looked back, surging ahead to secure his first trophy in Madrid.
“I started the match brilliantly, breaking his serve straight away”, Sinner remarked after his 58-minute victory. “He didn’t play his best tennis, he tried to put pressure on me, but I’m very happy with the level at which I’m playing. It’s incredible to win another title like this, it means a great deal to me. It’s been another amazing tournament”.
In one of the circuit’s fiercest rivalries, Sinner has consolidated his dominance (10-4) in the head-to-head against Zverev, whom he has now beaten in their last nine meetings and in all three finals they have contested.
Sinner’s reaction at the start of the season was a demonstration of his fighting spirit. After the emotional setback of failing to defend his title at the Australian Open, the Italian’s response has been extraordinary; 23 consecutive victories. With his triumphs in Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid, Jannik has become the first player ever to win the first four Masters 1000 tournaments of the year in the same season.
His victory in the Spanish capital is much more than just an isolated triumph in the heart of the clay-court swing. With the locker room looking on, and at a venue he had always struggled to master, Jannik has proven his ability to conquer any stage. At just 24 years of age, Sinner has won eight of the nine Masters 1000 tournaments on the calendar, putting him on the brink of a collection only previously completed by Novak Djokovic. Furthermore, he could reach that milestone as soon as next week in Rome, where he will have the home crowd spurring him on.
Did You Know…? Jannik Sinner has notched up nine ATP Masters 1000 trophies in his career. As of this Sunday, the Italian occupies seventh place in the all-time rankings in the category that was established in 1990, behind Novak Djokovic (40), Rafael Nadal (36), Roger Federer (28), Andre Agassi (17), Andy Murray (14), and Pete Sampras (11).
