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Jannik Sinner’s long unbeaten set streak ends, but he powers into the Monte Carlo quarter-finals.
Jannik Sinner's dominant run at ATP Masters 1000 level was finally interrupted, but the Italian still advanced to the Monte Carlo quarter-finals with a hard-fought win over Tomas Machac.
Sinner, who had won his previous three Masters titles in Paris, Indian Wells and Miami without dropping a set, saw his streak of 37 consecutive sets end when Machac claimed a second-set tie-break. It marked the first set Sinner had lost at this level in 186 days, dating back to the Shanghai Masters in October, when he retired injured against Tallon Griekspoor.
Despite the setback, Sinner regained control in the decider to secure a 6-1 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 victory. The result extended his winning streak at Masters events to 19 matches and kept his bid for a first clay-court Masters 1000 title on track.
The second seed will next face Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarter-finals. A title in Monte Carlo would also see Sinner overtake Carlos Alcaraz as world number one when the rankings are updated on Monday, with no ranking points to defend until the Italian Open after serving a three-month suspension at this time last year.
Alcaraz, meanwhile, remains in contention to defend his title after overcoming Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-1 4-6 6-3. The Spaniard raced through the opening set but struggled with 23 unforced errors in the second before recovering with 13 winners in the decider. He will face eighth seed Alexander Bublik, who beat Jiri Lehecka in straight sets.
Away from Monte Carlo, women's world number one Aryna Sabalenka has withdrawn from the Stuttgart Open due to injury. Sabalenka said she was not ready to compete after picking up the issue following her Miami triumph, where she completed the 'Sunshine Double' by adding the title to her Indian Wells win.
The Belarusian, a four-time runner-up in Stuttgart, will be replaced in the draw by Poland's Magdalena Frech.