Full Breakdown
Jannik Sinner Matches Novak Djokovic’s Masters 1000 Winning Streak in Rome
5/13/2026, 12:27:05 PM
Background & Context
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner entered the Italian Open after winning five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles—a first-ever feat—and riding a 26-match overall winning run that began after a quarter-final loss to Jakub Mensik on 19 February. His Masters-1000 streak, which started at the 2023 Paris Masters, reached 31 straight victories, equalling the record set by Novak Djokovic in 2011.
Key Figures
- Jannik Sinner – 24-year-old Italian, top seed, joint holder of the 31-match Masters 1000 streak.
- Andrea Pellegrino – Italian qualifier, world No. 155, Sinner’s round-of-16 opponent.
- Novak Djokovic – Serbian former record-holder of 31 consecutive Masters 1000 wins (2011).
- Andrey Rublev – 12th-seeded Russian, slated to meet Sinner in the quarter-finals.
Match Summary & On-the-Ground Report
Sinner defeated Pellegrino 6-2, 6-3 on Campo Centrale, advancing to the quarter-finals. He opened with a 4-0 lead in the first set, held a love service game, and broke early in the second set to close the match on his first match point. The crowd, many in orange, applauded Pellegrino’s sliced forehands and drop shots while also cheering the home favorite. Pellegrino created two break-point chances at 3-2 in the second set, but Sinner’s “accelerative gear-change” from 3-3 secured the decisive break.
Data & Statistics
- 31 consecutive Masters 1000 wins (tied with Djokovic).
- 26 straight overall matches across all events.
- Five straight Masters 1000 titles (Madrid, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Rome).
- 57-0 record versus players outside the top 50 since a loss to Dušan Lajovic in 2023.
- 18-0 record against Italian opponents on tour (AP notes 19-0).
- Only two sets dropped in the last 62 Masters 1000 matches.
Official Statements & Responses
Sinner praised Pellegrino’s effort, noting his hard work and recalling a match they played seven years earlier on a smaller court. He described the round-of-16 as “a very good match from both of us” and expressed confidence about the upcoming quarter-final. Emphasizing a universal approach, Sinner said success requires playing “on all the surfaces and all the tournaments at your maximum.” He also highlighted the significance of multiple Italians remaining in the draw for national fans.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If you want to be a great player you’ve got to play on all the surfaces and all the tournaments at your maximum,” — Jannik Sinner, Player
- “I’m very happy for him. He’s been working very hard,” — Jannik Sinner, Player
- “From an Italian point of view, it's amazing that there are so many Italians left in the draw.” — Jannik Sinner, Player
- “I think there is a lot of work behind it. A lot of dedication and sacrifice I put in every day. Obviously, it means a lot to me, seeing these results. At some point, results are going to be down, which is normal,” — Jannik Sinner, Player
- “I'm very happy that I've continued to believe in myself.” — Jannik Sinner, Player
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the match’s exact duration: Tennis.com cites 88 minutes, while BBC and other outlets report 1 hour 28 minutes or 1 hour 29 minutes. No official comment on the discrepancy is available. All sources agree on the 31-match streak, but precise start dates vary, with some attributing the run to the 2023 Paris Masters and others to the start of the 2024 season.
Why It Matters
Matching Djokovic’s streak positions Sinner as the second player ever to win all nine Masters 1000 events, a feat previously achieved only by Djokovic. A Rome title would also make him the first player to sweep the clay-court Masters 1000 series in a single season, joining Rafael Nadal as the only one to do so. The achievement underscores a shift in men’s tennis toward a new dominant generation and highlights Italy’s emerging prominence on the ATP Tour.
What’s Next
Sinner’s quarter-final opponent will be 12th-seeded Andrey Rublev, who defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili earlier in the day. A victory would place Sinner in the semi-finals with a clear path to potentially becoming the outright holder of the longest Masters 1000 winning streak and the first to complete the Masters 1000 “career Grand Slam” in the Open Era.
