The Italian has forgotten what it feels like to lose.
Jannik Sinner progressed to his first Mutua Madrid Open final on Friday, leaving him just one step away from five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles, something that has never been done. The Italian claimed a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Frenchman Arthur Fils in a Manolo Santana Stadium that was packed to the rafters, reaffirming his dominance in the Spanish capital and making his intentions for the clay swing clear. This stretch of the season could significantly increase his lead at the top of the ATP Rankings, and the man from San Candido looks determined to make the most of it.
“I tried to be very aggressive”, said Sinner. “I felt really comfortable on the return. In the second set he started to serve better, it was more difficult. But I’m happy in general with my performance today. I try to play the best tennis possible, but today was a good day on the court”.
At a tournament where he has been the hot favourite throughout, the Italian has now achieved one of those feats reserved for truly special players. Sinner has become the fourth man ever to reach the final at all ATP Masters 1000 events since the category was created in 1990. Jannik has accomplished a feat that only Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal can boast of, and he has done it at a younger age than any of them.
The Caja Magica witnessed a match between two players in fine fettle, both of them thriving in a clay-court swing in which they had already picked up trophies. After lifting the crown in Barcelona and soaring high in Madrid, Fils arrived with the kind of confidence that comes with nine consecutive victories on Spanish soil. However, on the other side of the net, Sinner’s 21 straight victories put him in a position of complete dominance. All the ingredients were in place for a high-octane encounter.
Despite being on the verge of history, Sinner wasted no time in showing off his remarkable form. The Italian applied relentless pressure on the return, breaking Fils twice in his first three service games to firmly assert his authority. The Frenchman, who thrives on high-paced rallies, was given no time to settle. Sinner simply flew out of the blocks, claiming the first set in just 39 minutes.
Fils’s confidence, however, began to shine through in the second set, where he managed to ask some questions of the world No. 1 before his eventual defeat. The Frenchman rediscovered his power and managed to keep the set open until 4-4. However, he could not find a way through Sinner’s defences. The Italian, who never faced a break point throughout the match, only needed one break of his own in the second set to seal the victory.
“He’s one of the best players in the world right now, I knew that before the match”, said Sinner sportingly of Fils. “I’m pleased to have played against him. He’s very good for tennis and for sport”.
Sinner wants the clay all for himself in 2026. After dethroning Alcaraz in Monte Carlo, the Italian is now one match away from claiming the Madrid crown for the first time. If he succeeds, he will take his impeccable record to Rome and Roland Garros, venues where he fell at the final hurdle last year.
Meanwhile, Fils leaves Madrid having consolidated his stunning start to the season. After reaching his second consecutive ATP Masters 1000 semi-final, the Frenchman has a solid 22-5 record in 2026. Arthur is also now ranked No. 4 in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin.
Did You Know…?
Jannik Sinner is the third player to reach the final at five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 tournaments. The Italian follows in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal (5 – Indian Wells 2011/Rome 2011; Monte Carlo 2013/Cincinnati 2013) and Novak Djokovic (7 – Rome 2015/Miami 2016).
