Jannik Sinner has practically forgotten what it feels like to lose. Sunday saw the Italian notch up his 24th consecutive win in ATP Masters 1000s, defeating Elmer Moller 6-2, 6-3 to move into the last sixteen of the Mutua Madrid Open. At one of the few big events missing from his CV, where he has another opportunity to prove himself on clay, the world No. 1 continues to ease his way through the rounds.
“I tried to stay calm and serve well in the important moments”, said Sinner during the on-court interview. “I think that was the key. There wasn’t much rhythm, so I tried to stay stable. We’ll see what happens in the next round”.
Sinner’s performance was proof he had adapted as he embarked on his second match of the tournament. After an up-and-down opener, in which he had to come back to beat Benjamin Bonzi as he battled with the altitude of the Spanish capital, the Italian returned to the clay with a much clearer plan. His ball speed, precision in every shot, and an unwavering ability to dominate rallies showed he is feeling far more comfortable with the conditions of the Madrid tournament.
Flipping that switch was absolutely necessary in order to break down the game of Moller, who had more games under his belt having come through qualifiers. Sinner only offered his opponent one break point in the whole match, forcing Moller to exert himself in every rally. The Scandinavian, who requested a medical time-out in set two, was unable to keep up as the first seed began to find his feet in the tournament.
Best winning streaks at ATP Masters 1000s (since 1990)
| Player | Wins | Start | End |
| Novak Djokovic | 31 | Indian Wells 2011 (R2) | Cincinnati 2011 (F) |
| Novak Djokovic | 30 | Paris 2014 (R2) | Montreal 2015 (F) |
| Roger Federer | 29 | Hamburg 2005 (R1) | Monte Carlo 2006 (F) |
| Jannik Sinner | 24 | Paris 2025 (R2) | streak ongoing |
Sunday’s result puts Sinner fourth on the list of the longest run of wins in the history of the ATP Masters 1000s, surpassing Rafael Nadal’s best effort and closing in on those of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
“I’ve always said that I can’t compare myself with those names”, Sinner said humbly. “They’ve done huge things in their careers, I’m just at the beginning. They’re on a different level. I’m happy to be playing in every match possible, but what they did is different. I try to give 100% in every match. If I manage to win, great. If I lose, I won’t have any regrets”.
The Italian still has history in his hands in Madrid, where he is aspiring to become the first player to win five ATP Masters 1000 trophies on the trot since the category was created in 1990. With his wins in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, where he steamrollered his opponents, Sinner currently looks unstoppable.
“I never take anything for granted. I try to understand what works in certain conditions. I haven’t had much time to work on clay, but I’ve tried to understand what I need and what works on it. That’s my motivation. Putting myself in the best position to win as many matches as possible. There are no magic tricks. I try to understand what works in every practice session and try to repeat it in matches. That’s where the motivation is”.
Thus the No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings’ transformation into one of the most feared players on clay continues. The Italian, who a year back was on the brink of winning the French Open, arrives in Madrid after sinking Carlos Alcaraz at the ATP Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo. Before fulfilling the role of home hero at the Foro Italico in Rome, Sinner has his sights firmly set on the Caja Magica.