Jannik Sinner reached the semi-finals of the Italian Open on Thursday after seeing off Andrey Rublev and establishing a new record of consecutive wins in Masters 1000 tournaments.
Another straight-sets victory, this time 6-2, 6-4 over Rublev, moved Sinner up to 32 straight wins in the ATP’s top-ranked events, one more than the previous record established by Novak Djokovic in 2011.
“I don’t play for records, I play just for my own story,” said Sinner on court. “At the same time, it means a lot to me, but tomorrow is another day, another opponent, a different opponent.”
Rublev was Sinner’s first seeded opponent at this year’s tournament in Rome and the world No 1 made short work of his task in front of a delighted centre court. On Friday Sinner is to face Daniil Medvedev, winner of the 2023 title at the Foro Italico, or lucky loser Martin Landaluce, who play each other in the first match of the evening session on Thursday.
Sinner looks near unbeatable at the moment and with his great rival Carlos Alcaraz out injured he is heavy favourite to become the first Italian to win the Rome title in five decades, with a career grand slam up for grabs at the French Open. The last Italian man to win the singles trophy in Rome was Adriano Panatta in 1976. Sinner lost last year’s final in Rome to Alcaraz, while Jasmine Paolini became the first Italian woman to lift the trophy in 40 years last season.
Rublev offered little resistance, the Russian dropping his serve in the first game of both sets to give Sinner a leg-up, and committing 28 unforced errors in 18 games. Sinner showed flashes of his best tennis, with one beautiful cross-court drop shot helping him to break Rublev for the fourth time and take a 4-1 lead in the second set.
“I felt like we both didn’t play at our best today, but at the same time, you know, the conditions here are very tough,” said Sinner of the changeable, windy weather in Rome. “I tried to adapt myself in the best possible way, and obviously I’m happy.”
