Jannik Sinner continued his historic 2026 run on Monday, defeating Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 6-0 at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. With this 65-minute victory, the Italian joins Novak Djokovic as the only men in ATP history to win their first 25 Masters 1000 matches of a single season.
Dominance on the Clay
Playing in front of a passionate home crowd, Sinner dominated the match from the opening serve. He showcased a perfect blend of power and finesse, frequently using well-timed drop shots to keep Popyrin off balance.
Sinner’s technical precision was nearly flawless; he committed only one backhand unforced error during the entire match. Following the win, the World No. 1 noted that his return game was the key to neutralizing Popyrin’s big serve.
Chasing the “Career Golden Masters”
Sinner is currently on the verge of two massive milestones this week in Rome:
- The Career Golden Masters: If Sinner wins the title this week, he will join Novak Djokovic as the only players to have won all nine ATP Masters 1000 events since the series began in 1990.
- The Win Streak Record: Sinner has now won 30 consecutive Masters 1000 matches. He is just one win away from tying Djokovic’s all-time record of 31 straight wins set in 2011.
Longest ATP Masters 1000 Winning Streaks
| Player | Wins | Period |
| Novak Djokovic | 31 | Indian Wells 2011 – Cincinnati 2011 |
| Jannik Sinner | 30 | Paris 2025 – Active Streak |
| Novak Djokovic | 30 | Paris 2014 – Montreal 2015 |
| Roger Federer | 29 | Hamburg 2005 – Monte-Carlo 2006 |
A “Perfect” Six Months
The 24-year-old Italian has been untouchable at the elite level over the last half-year. He entered Rome having already secured five consecutive Masters 1000 trophies:
- Paris (2025)
- Indian Wells (2026)
- Miami (2026)
- Monte-Carlo (2026)
- Madrid (2026)
Sinner’s last loss at this level was a retirement against Tallon Griekspoor in Shanghai back in October 2025. Since then, he has built an insurmountable lead at the top of the PIF ATP Rankings.
What’s Next?
Sinner will face World No. 155 Andrea Pellegrino in the fourth round. If he continues this form, a rematch of last year’s final against Carlos Alcaraz could be on the horizon as the Italian looks to avenge his 2025 loss and secure his first-ever Rome title.