Sinner Reaches All Nine Masters 1000 Semifinals, Chases Fifth Straight Title in Madrid

Key facts

• Jannik Sinner defeated Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-4 in the Madrid Open semifinal.
• Sinner has now reached the semifinals of all nine Masters 1000 events, joining Nadal, Djokovic, Federer, Murray, and Zverev.
• He is the fourth player and the youngest to reach all nine Masters 1000 finals.
• Sinner's 22-match winning streak includes titles at Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo.
• He aims to win a record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title, surpassing Djokovic and Nadal.
• Sinner is the first player born in the 2000s to record 350 tour-level wins.
• Alexander Zverev defeated Alexander Blockx 6-2, 7-5 to reach his fourth Madrid final.
• Sinner and Zverev will meet in a fifth consecutive Masters 1000 event; Zverev has lost their last four semifinal meetings in straight sets.

A Historic Run in Madrid

Jannik Sinner has reached the Madrid Open final for the first time, extending his winning streak to 22 matches with a straight-sets victory over Arthur Fils. The 24-year-old Italian, already the world number one, is now on the cusp of a record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title. Sinner broke Fils twice to take the first set 6-2, then overcame a 3-2 deficit in the second set to break and serve out the match 6-4. The win places him in Sunday's final against second seed Alexander Zverev, who earlier defeated unseeded Belgian Alexander Blockx 6-2, 7-5.

Chasing a Fifth Straight Masters Crown

Sinner has won the first three ATP Masters 1000 events of the season—Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo—and also triumphed in Paris last year. A victory in Madrid would give him five consecutive Masters titles, surpassing Novak Djokovic, who won four in a row on three occasions, and Rafael Nadal, who achieved the feat in 2013. No player has ever won five straight Masters 1000 tournaments. Djokovic remains the only man to have won all nine Masters events, a sweep he accomplished twice. Neither Nadal nor Roger Federer ever completed the full set, despite their dominance.

Joining an Elite Club

By reaching the Madrid final, Sinner becomes the fourth player—and the youngest—to have reached the final of all nine Masters 1000 tournaments, after Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer. He also becomes the third man to reach the final of the first four Masters events of a season, following Federer in 2006 and Nadal in 2011. Earlier in the week, Sinner secured his place in the semifinals for the first time in Madrid, defeating Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar 6-2, 7-6(0). That victory ensured he had reached at least the semifinals of all nine Masters 1000 events, a milestone only five others have achieved: Nadal (2009), Djokovic (2009), Federer (2010), Andy Murray (2015), and Alexander Zverev (2026).

A Rivalry Renewed

Sunday's final will be the fifth consecutive Masters 1000 event in which Sinner and Zverev face off. Zverev, a two-time Madrid champion (2018, 2021), has lost their last four semifinal meetings in straight sets. The German, ranked world number three, advanced past Blockx after a patient second set, breaking in the 11th game before serving out the match. Blockx, 21, moves up 34 places to 35th in the ATP rankings after his run, having beaten three seeds in the top 20 to reach his first Masters 1000 semifinal. Zverev, meanwhile, will be seeking his first Masters title since 2021.

Sinner's Meteoric Rise

Born on 16 August 2001 in San Candido, Italy, Sinner first made his mark by winning the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2019 as the lowest-ranked seed, beating Frances Tiafoe, Mikael Ymer, Miomir Kecmanovic, and Alex De Minaur. He was named ATP Newcomer of the Year that season. He won his maiden ATP title at the Sofia Open in 2020 and gradually climbed the rankings, reaching the Wimbledon semifinals in 2023. The following year, he captured his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open, defeating Daniil Medvedev in five sets, and added the US Open title later that season. He now has three Grand Slam titles and has been world number one since June 2024.

From Skier to Tennis Star

Sinner's path to tennis dominance is unconventional. He was a competitive skier until age 13, when he switched focus to tennis and moved to Riccardo Piatti's academy to develop his game. His rapid ascent—from Next Gen champion in 2019 to multiple Grand Slam winner in 2024—has drawn comparisons to the sport's all-time greats. Former player Greg Rusedski recently noted that Sinner's quality evokes Rafael Nadal, a testament to the Italian's relentless improvement. Sinner himself has downplayed comparisons, saying after his semifinal win, 'I'm definitely not at the level of Carlos, that's for sure. I'm still trying.'

What Lies Ahead

A win on Sunday would not only give Sinner a record fifth consecutive Masters title but also complete his collection of Masters 1000 trophies, leaving only Madrid and Rome as missing titles. He could sweep both before the French Open later this season. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz, Sinner's main rival, is sidelined with a wrist injury for the rest of the clay season, leaving Sinner as the clear favorite in Madrid. Alcaraz has three Masters 1000 events—Canada, Shanghai, and Paris—where he has yet to reach the final, but he will have opportunities later in the year to match Sinner's milestone.

The bottom line

• Jannik Sinner has reached the final of all nine Masters 1000 tournaments, the youngest player to do so.
• He is on a 22-match winning streak and aims for a record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title.
• Sinner will face Alexander Zverev in the Madrid final; Zverev has lost their last four semifinal meetings.
• Sinner's rise includes three Grand Slam titles and the world number one ranking.
• He switched from skiing to tennis at age 13 and rapidly ascended through the ranks.
• With Carlos Alcaraz injured, Sinner is the heavy favorite to win Madrid and potentially sweep the clay Masters.