ATP Tour

Sinner matches Djokovic Masters 1000 streak with Rome win

Jannik Sinner tied Novak Djokovic for the longest winning streak in ATP Masters 1000 history on Tuesday, when he earned his 31st consecutive victory to reach the quarter-finals at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

The World No. 1 continued to roll through the field in Rome, where he cruised past Italian qualifier Andrea Pellegrino 6-2, 6-3.

"I am very happy with the outcome. I am very happy for him. We played seven years ago in a smaller court and it is nice," Sinner said, referring to his win against Pellegrino at an ITF Men's World Tennis Tour event in 2019. "From an Italian point of view, it is amazing there are so many Italians in the round of 16. It was a good match for both of us."

Sinner is attempting to join Djokovic in Rome as only the second player to complete the Career Golden Masters, winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 events since the format began in 1990.

The 24-year-old has been nearly untouchable over the past six months and last week made history in Madrid by becoming the first player to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles, adding to triumphs in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo. The last time Sinner lost at this level came in October, when he retired during his third-round clash against Tallon Griekspoor in Shanghai.

Last year’s finalist in Rome, Sinner is also bidding to become the first home champion at the event since Adriano Panatta in 1976. The 24-year-old will next face Andrey Rublev.

Sinner suffocated Pellegrino in the pair’s first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting and continued to mix variety with baseline ball-striking. The top seed hit a number of effective drop shots to outmanoeuvre Pellegrino, who stood deep behind the baseline, while he was dominant on return, breaking the Italian four times.

The one-hour, 30-minute victory also improved Sinner’s perfect record against fellow Italians to 19-0.

Pellegrino was competing in the main draw of a Masters 1000 event for the first time. The 29-year-old, who defeated Frances Tiafoe in the third round, leaves Rome up 32 spots to No. 123 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings and is set to rise to a career high on Monday.