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Jannik Sinner is one win from a record fifth straight Masters 1,000 title after reaching his first Madrid Open final.
Jannik Sinner is one win away from making Masters 1,000 history after powering into his first Madrid Open final with a straight-sets victory over Arthur Fils.
The world number one extended his winning streak to 22 matches with a composed 6-2, 6-4 semi-final triumph, setting up a title clash with Alexander Zverev. If Sinner lifts the trophy on Sunday, he will become the first man to win five consecutive Masters 1,000 titles, moving clear of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal, who each managed runs of four straight titles in the format.
The 24-year-old has already dominated the top tier of ATP events this season, winning at Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, having also taken last year's Paris Masters. Madrid now offers another landmark in what is rapidly becoming a defining stretch of his career.
Against France's Arthur Fils, Sinner was clinical. He broke twice to claim the opening set with ease, then absorbed a stronger second-set challenge before striking decisively at 5-4 to seal victory. Fils, fresh from winning in Barcelona and one of the brightest young talents on tour, pushed hard but could not match Sinner's control in the key moments.
The win also places Sinner in rare company. He is now the youngest player, and only the fourth man, to reach the final of all nine Masters 1,000 events, joining Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. He has also become the first player born in the 2000s to record 350 tour-level wins.
Standing in his way is Zverev, who booked a fourth Madrid final with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Belgium's Alexander Blockx. The German, a two-time champion in Madrid, has experience on these courts, but recent history favours Sinner, who has beaten him in four straight Masters semi-finals.
Records are now within touching distance. The challenge for Sinner is simple enough in theory, difficult in practice, beat Zverev, and move another step closer to tennis immortality.
