Sinner Extends Streak to 22, Reaches Madrid Final Against Zverev

Key facts

• Jannik Sinner defeated Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-4 in the Madrid Open semifinal on May 1, 2026.
• Sinner extended his winning streak to 22 matches, including titles in Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo.
• Sinner earned his 350th career victory, becoming the first man born in the 2000s to reach that milestone.
• Sinner is the fourth and youngest man to reach the final at all nine Masters 1000 events, after Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal.
• Alexander Zverev beat Alexander Blockx 6-2, 7-5 to reach his fourth Madrid Open final.
• Sinner and Zverev will face off in a fifth consecutive Masters 1000 tournament; Zverev has lost their last four semifinal meetings in straight sets.
• Blockx, despite losing, will rise 34 places to 35th in the ATP rankings after defeating three top-20 seeds.
• The women's final on Saturday features Mirra Andreeva against Marta Kostyuk.

Sinner's Dominant Semifinal Performance

Top-ranked Jannik Sinner extended his winning streak to 22 matches by defeating Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-4 in the Madrid Open semifinal on Friday. The Italian broke Fils' serve twice in the first set and saved the only pressure point of the match at 30-30 in the sixth game of the second set, holding serve with back-to-back aces. He then broke with a backhand winner down the line to lead 5-4 before serving out the match. Sinner did not face a single break point in the semifinal, a testament to his relentless serving and baseline dominance. “I’m very happy about the general performance today. I’m trying to play the best possible tennis. Today was a very good day in the office,” Sinner said in an on-court interview.

Milestone 350th Career Win

Friday's victory was Sinner's 350th career win, making him the first man born in the 2000s to reach that milestone. At 24 years old, he joins an elite group of players who have achieved such a high win total early in their careers. Sinner also became the fourth and youngest man to reach the final at all nine Masters 1000 events, following Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal. He is the third man to reach the final of the first four Masters 1000 tournaments of a season, after Federer in 2006 and Nadal in 2011.

Zverev Sets Up Fifth Consecutive Masters 1000 Clash

Alexander Zverev, the world number three, booked his place in the final by defeating unheralded Belgian Alexander Blockx 6-2, 7-5. Zverev raced through the first set but had to be patient in the second, breaking Blockx in the 11th game before serving out the match. This will be the fifth consecutive Masters 1000 event where Sinner and Zverev meet, with the Italian having won their previous four semifinal encounters in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo without dropping a set. “I am looking forward to playing Jannik again and looking forward to a tough match,” Zverev said. “The better player will win on Sunday.” Zverev, a two-time Madrid champion (2018, 2021), will be playing his fourth final at the tournament.

Blockx's Breakthrough Run

Despite his semifinal loss, Alexander Blockx enjoyed a remarkable tournament. The 21-year-old Belgian, who entered as an unseeded qualifier, defeated three top-20 seeds to reach his first Masters 1000 semifinal. His performance will see him rise 34 places to 35th in the ATP rankings, a career high. Blockx's run included upsets over higher-ranked opponents, showcasing his potential on the clay surface. While he could not match Zverev's experience, his aggressive play and composure under pressure marked him as a rising talent.

Historic Stakes for Sinner on Sunday

Sinner is attempting to become the first man to win five consecutive Masters 1000 tournaments, a feat that would surpass Novak Djokovic, who won four in a row on three occasions, and Rafael Nadal, who achieved four straight in 2013. Sinner has already won the opening three ATP 1000 events of 2026—Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo—and also triumphed in Paris last year. A victory on Sunday would cement Sinner's dominance on clay and hard courts alike, extending his winning streak to 23 matches and further solidifying his world number one ranking.

Women's Final Preview

The women's final on Saturday will feature Mirra Andreeva against Marta Kostyuk. Andreeva reached her first Madrid final by defeating Hailey Baptiste, while Kostyuk advanced through her own semifinal. The match promises to be a clash of styles, with Andreeva's aggressive baseline game facing Kostyuk's counterpunching ability.

The bottom line

• Jannik Sinner has won 22 consecutive matches and is one win away from a record fifth straight Masters 1000 title.
• Sinner's 350th career win makes him the first man born in the 2000s to reach that milestone.
• He is the fourth and youngest player to reach all nine Masters 1000 finals, joining Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal.
• Alexander Zverev will be Sinner's opponent in the final, having lost their last four Masters 1000 meetings in straight sets.
• Alexander Blockx's run to the semifinal will lift him to a career-high ranking of 35th.
• The women's final on Saturday features Mirra Andreeva against Marta Kostyuk.