Alexander Zverev is now in no doubt. Jannik Sinner is currently the most dominant player in tennis. The Italian has now claimed five consecutive Masters 1000 titles, and Rome, the only tournament in the category he is yet to conquer, is just around the corner. Can anyone stop Sinner?

It was the question on everybody’s lips on Sunday in the Caja Magica, when the world number one beat Zverev 6-1, 6-2 in the Mutua Madrid Open final. If you blinked, you may well have missed it. After Sinner’s performance today, the German believes the Italian is now simply streets ahead of the rest.

“He hasn’t lost a Masters 1000 match since Shanghai, almost nine months ago. Clearly, there’s a difference between him and the rest”, said Zverev in the Caja Magica’s press conference room after the final. “There’s a big gap between Sinner and everybody else. And I think there’s a big gap between Alcaraz, myself, maybe Novak, and everybody else”.

“I think everybody’s struggling against Jannik. He’s won the last five Masters 1000s. I just lose to him more often because I reach him in the draw every single time”, added world No. 3 Zverev, who has lost to Sinner this year in the semi-finals in Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo, and now in the final in Madrid. “I have to figure out how I can beat him, I have to find a solution”.

“It’s always difficult against Jannik. I don’t think it’s a surprise. He’s world No. 1. He’s very stable. He doesn’t have dips, he doesn’t have phases where he drops off. That’s why he’s world No. 1. To me, that’s more spectacular, maintaining the level the whole time”.

Despite the defeat in the final, Zverev can leave Madrid with his head held high. Champion of the Caja Magica in 2018 and 2021, the Hamburg native has picked up five wins this fortnight, proving once again that when he plays his best tennis, few players in the world can deal with him.