Jannik Sinner's Historic Start to 2026 ATP Season
Sinner's Impressive Performance at ATP Madrid Open
Jannik Sinner has kicked off the 2026 season in spectacular fashion, achieving a remarkable milestone that only Novak Djokovic has previously reached in tennis history. He secured his place in the quarter-finals of the ATP Madrid Open by defeating Cameron Norrie in straight sets, with scores of 7-5, 7-5. Sinner is set to face either rising star Rafael Jodar or Vit Kopriva on Wednesday, April 28. So far in 2026, he remains undefeated in Masters 1000 tournaments, having triumphed at the Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo Opens. He aims to clinch his fifth consecutive title at this level, following his victory at the Paris Masters in 2025.
Historic Winning Streak for Sinner
With his latest win, Sinner has achieved an impressive 20 consecutive victories to start the 2026 season in Masters 1000 tournaments, making him only the second player in history to accomplish this feat after Novak Djokovic. Djokovic holds the record for the two best starts to a season in tennis history. Sinner's current streak surpasses Pete Sampras' previous record, placing him third for the longest winning runs at the beginning of a year.
Longest Winning Runs To Start Year In Masters 1000 Tournaments| Player | Wins | Year | Start At | End At |
| Novak Djokovic | 31 | 2011 | Indian Wells | Cincinnati |
| Novak Djokovic | 25 | 2015 | Indian Wells | Canada |
| Jannik Sinner | 20 | 2026 | Indian Wells | --- |
| Pete Sampras | 19 | 1994 | Indian Wells | Stockholm |
| Roger Federer | 17 | 2006 | Indian Wells | Monte Carlo |
Additionally, Sinner has now amassed 25 consecutive wins in Masters 1000 tournaments, making him the third player in history to achieve such a streak. Only Djokovic and Roger Federer have matched this accomplishment since the format's inception in 1990.
Longest Winning Runs In Masters 1000 Tournaments| Player | Wins | Start | End |
| Novak Djokovic | 31 | India Wells Open 2011 | Cincinnati Open 2011 |
| Novak Djokovic | 30 | Paris Open 2014 | Canada Open 2015 |
| Roger Federer | 29 | Hamburg Masters 2005 | Monte Carlo Open 2005 |
| Jannik Sinner | 25 | Paris Open 2005 | ---- |
Sinner Aiming for His First Madrid Open Title
This marks only the second occasion that Sinner has reached the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open, the first being in 2024 when he had to concede a walkover to Felix Auger-Aliassime. If he wins his next match, it will be his first time advancing to the semi-finals. Should Sinner claim victory at the Madrid Open, he will have secured eight out of nine Masters 1000 titles in his career, a feat only matched by Djokovic, who has won all nine. No player has ever won the first four Masters 1000 titles of the year, with Djokovic being the only other player besides Sinner to win the first three in 2015. This presents Sinner with a unique opportunity to achieve an unprecedented milestone. If he wins the title, he will also become the first player to win five consecutive Masters 1000 tournaments, a record Djokovic has achieved three times in his career.