ROME — Every tennis player has those off days, where the ball just doesn’t seem to cooperate, even the elite. But for Jannik Sinner, the world’s top-ranked player, such days are becoming increasingly rare.
With Carlos Alcaraz currently sidelined by a right wrist injury, Sinner is looking more formidable than ever as the prime tennis season approaches, featuring the French Open and Wimbledon in the coming months.
“He has incredible consistency. There are no dips in his performance,” remarked Alexander Zverev, the No. 3 player, after suffering a defeat to Sinner in the Madrid Open final—his ninth consecutive loss to the Italian star. “This is precisely why he’s the world No. 1.”
Sinner’s triumph in Madrid marked a historic milestone, making him the first player ever to clinch five consecutive Masters 1000 titles, which are the premier tournaments outside of the Grand Slams, and extended his remarkable winning streak to 23 matches.
His only defeat since February 19 was against Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open quarterfinals.
“Right now, there’s a significant gap between Sinner and everyone else,” Zverev stated matter-of-factly.
And the 24-year-old is still evolving his game.
“He hasn’t tapped into his full potential yet,” noted Simone Vagnozzi, one of Sinner’s dedicated coaches. “That’s crucial because once you feel you’ve maxed out, finding the motivation to keep pushing becomes challenging.”
Sinner’s next challenge will be his home Italian Open, kicking off this week, which is also the only Masters Series event he has yet to conquer.
Although there were rumors he might opt out of Rome to rest for the French Open starting May 24, he put those to rest after his victory against Zverev.
“Competing at home is incredibly special,” Sinner expressed. “I feel physically fit, so there’s no reason not to play in Rome.”
Last year, Sinner faced Alcaraz in the Rome final, his first tournament back after a three-month ban.
With his current form, it appears he’s well on his way to becoming the first Italian man to lift the trophy at the Foro Italico since Adriano Panatta, a feat that hasn’t occurred in 50 years. The same goes for the French Open, the only Grand Slam title missing from Sinner’s collection.
He nearly clinched it last year, squandering three match points in a nail-biting fifth-set tiebreaker against Alcaraz.
In addition to Sinner, there are three other Italians ranked in the top 20: No. 10 Lorenzo Musetti, No. 12 Flavio Cobolli, and No. 20 Luciano Darderi. However, Sinner boasts an impeccable 18-0 record against his fellow Italians.
Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Gauff
On the women’s circuit, identifying favorites during the clay season is more complex.
Like Sinner, the top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka achieved the coveted “Sunshine double” on hard courts with wins in both Indian Wells and Miami. However, she faced an unexpected defeat at the hands of Hailey Baptiste in the Madrid quarterfinals, squandering six match points along the way.
In Madrid, four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek had to retire from a third-round match due to illness.
Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine captured her first WTA 1000 title by defeating Mirra Andreeva in Madrid.
Last year, local player Jasmine Paolini made waves by winning both singles and doubles titles in Rome alongside partner Sara Errani.
Coco Gauff was the runner-up in Rome last year before going on to seize the French Open title.
