World No. 1 Jannik Sinner of Italy has equaled Novak Djokovic’s record by securing his 31st consecutive victory at ATP Masters 1000 events. The Italian star advanced to the quarterfinals of the Italian Open in Rome on Wednesday, defeating compatriot Andrea Pellegrino (ranked 155th) with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 win.
Sinner’s streak began at the Paris Masters in November last year and has since swept through Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid. His 31-match run now matches the legendary Serbian’s achievement from 2011, which previously stood as the longest winning streak in Masters 1000 history.
Sinner is also chasing another of Djokovic’s records: winning all nine Masters 1000 tournaments, a feat known as the “Career Golden Masters.” Should he triumph in Rome, he would become only the second player to achieve this.
“To be a great player, you have to play your best on every court and in every tournament,” Sinner said after the match. “Ultimately, it’s mental strength that makes the difference.”
Sinner’s path to the title has become clearer after second-seeded Alexander Zverev, who has been in excellent form this season, was upset in the round of 16. Zverev lost to Luciano Darderi (ranked 20th) in a three-set battle, 6-1, 6-7(10-12), 0-6.
Among the remaining quarterfinalists, the highest-ranked player besides Sinner is world No. 9 Daniil Medvedev of Russia, who could meet the Italian in the semifinals. Sinner’s next opponent is Andrey Rublev (ranked 14th), also from Russia. Sinner holds a 7-3 head-to-head record against Rublev, including two consecutive wins.