ROME, May 14 (Reuters) – Jannik Sinner continued his ominous form ahead of the French Open as the Italian world number one set a record with his 32nd consecutive Masters 1000 victory, brushing aside Russia’s Andrey Rublev 6-2 6-4 to reach the Italian Open semi-finals on Thursday.
Sinner has now moved clear of Novak Djokovic’s record and set his sights on further milestones. Djokovic remains the only man to have won all nine Masters 1000 events – a feat Sinner, 24, could match if he goes on to lift the title on home soil in Rome.
“I don’t play for records. I play just for my own story,” Sinner said.
Sinner awaits former world number one Daniil Medvedev or Spanish youngster Martin Landaluce, who play later on Thursday.
“At the same time, it means a lot to me, but tomorrow is another opponent. We’re going to play in different conditions – it’s going to be a night match,” Sinner added.
“Now the highest priority for me is trying to recover as much as I can physically. We’ll see how it goes.
“Emotionally, it takes a lot playing here at home. At the same time, I’ll definitely try to do my best. It’s a win-win situation for me in any case. It was a good day today.”
The top seed set the tone early, breaking Rublev, seeded 12th, in the opening game and quickly consolidating for a 2-0 lead. Rublev got on the board to pull back to 2-1, but Sinner held firm in a lengthy fourth game, saving break points to move ahead 3-1.
From there, Sinner remained in control, breaking again at 5-2 before calmly serving out the opening set.
He made another fast start in the second set, securing an early break and keeping Rublev at arm’s length before a brief pushback from the former world number five.
Sinner wrapped up the straight-sets victory in one hour and 31 minutes, striking 19 winners.
The home crowd chanted his name after he sealed the record.
Earlier this month, Sinner became the first man to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles when he lifted the Madrid Open trophy, adding to recent triumphs in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo.
With Rome the only title missing from his collection, Sinner is aiming to go one better than last year, when he was beaten in the final by Carlos Alcaraz.
The 23-year-old Spaniard, a seven-times Grand Slam winner, is nursing a wrist injury and is out of the French Open, potentially clearing Sinner’s path to a first Roland Garros title – the only Grand Slam missing from his illustrious trophy cabinet.
In this form, Sinner looks virtually unstoppable and will be eyeing a fifth Grand Slam crown when the French Open main draw gets underway on May 24.
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru;Editing by Christian Radnedge)
