World No. 1 Jannik Sinner continued his stunning domination on the ATP Tour by dismantling Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 6-0 at the Italian Open, extending his remarkable unbeaten run and adding yet another historic milestone ahead of the French Open.
With the win, the 24-year-old became the first player in history to start 25-0 across the first five Masters 1000 events of a calendar year. His incredible run includes title triumphs in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo and Madrid, making him the hottest player on the tour right now.
Sinner also extended his Masters 1000 winning streak to 30 consecutive matches, tying Novak Djokovic for the second-longest streak in ATP Masters history. Only Djokovic’s legendary 31-match run now stands ahead of him.
Sinner said the windy conditions in Rome were tricky, but he adapted well tactically, returned second serves strongly and benefited from Alexei Popyrin’s low first-serve percentage during his dominant straight-sets win.
“I felt the wind was mostly blowing in one direction, so you didn’t have to change too much. But when you play in windy conditions, you try to move the ball around a bit more. Against the wind, I usually try to hit flatter shots,” Sinner added.
“Overall, it was a very good performance from my side. The conditions were tricky, and he’s a big server. His first-serve percentage wasn’t very high, which helped me a bit. I’ve also been returning second serves really well, so I’m extremely happy to be in the next round,” Sinner added.
HOW SINNER TOOK DOWN POPYRIN
Playing in front of an electric home crowd in Rome, Sinner looked untouchable from the very first game. The Italian dictated rallies with brutal precision, mixed in delicate drop shots, and barely allowed Popyrin any breathing room. The victory not only sent him into the last 16 but also underlined why he is the overwhelming favourite heading into Roland Garros later this month.
Backed by a packed home crowd, Sinner immediately seized control of the match by breaking early in the opening set. Popyrin tried to stay aggressive and rely on his powerful serve and forehand, but Sinner absorbed the pace with ease before turning defence into attack in an instant.
The first set lasted barely over half an hour, with Sinner dropping only two games while winning the majority of points on Popyrin’s second serve. By the time the second set began, Popyrin already looked mentally drained against the relentless pressure coming from the top seed.
Sinner then completely blew the match apart in the second set. He broke Popyrin three more times and handed the Australian a brutal bagel, finishing the match without facing any real resistance.
– Ends
