Sinner Dominates Fils in Madrid Semifinals, Eyes Historic Win
Top-ranked player targets fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title, set to face Zverev or Blockx in the final.
May 01, 2026
Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Jannik Sinner secures a straight-sets victory over Arthur Fils in Madrid.
By Jerome Coombe
In a thrilling showdown at the Mutua Madrid Open, World No. 1 Jannik Sinner overcame a formidable challenge posed by Arthur Fils, advancing effortlessly to the championship match.
The 24-year-old Italian exhibited remarkable precision from the very beginning, triumphing with scores of 6-2, 6-4. This victory marks Sinner’s fifth consecutive final at the Masters 1000 level, as he seeks to etch his name in history by becoming the first man to achieve five straight titles at this tier in the sport.
“I aimed to play aggressively,” Sinner remarked. “I felt at ease during returns. The second set became trickier as he improved his serving, but overall, I’m pleased with my performance today—it was a great day for tennis.”
Having dispatched the promising 19-year-old Rafael Jodar in the quarter-finals with an assertive display, Sinner maintained that intense focus against Fils. The top-seeded player consistently pushed the Frenchman from baseline to baseline with stunning accuracy, securing 17 winners compared to Fils’ 10.
Up next, Sinner will face either two-time Madrid champion Alexander Zverev or the rising Belgian star Alexander Blockx in the final, with their semifinal clash scheduled for later tonight.
After his exhilarating run to the semifinals, Fils climbed eight spots to No. 17 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings. After battling a significant back injury last year that sidelined him for eight months, he marked his return in Montpellier in February.
Entering this match riding a remarkable nine-match winning streak, highlighted by his recent ATP 500 victory in Barcelona, Fils found it tough to break Sinner’s relentless flow. According to Infosys ATP Stats, Sinner lost just three of 24 first-serve points and faced no break points throughout the contest.
“I was aware before facing him that he’s among the elite players right now,” said Sinner of Fils, who currently stands fourth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin. “It was a pleasure to play against him, as he brings a lot to tennis.”
With this triumph, Sinner became the youngest player to reach finals across all nine Masters 1000 events, joining the ranks of legends like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. His current winning streak now sits at 27 matches at this prestigious level, encapsulating victories in Paris last year and in Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte-Carlo this year.
