World #1 Jannik Sinner made tennis history on Wednesday at the Mutua Madrid Open, securing his place in the semifinals after defeating the 19-year-old Spaniard Rafael Jodar. The victory marked Sinner’s first-ever semi-final appearance in Madrid, and it also saw him join an elite group of players who have reached the semifinals at all nine ATP Masters 1000 events.
The 24-year-old Italian is now only the sixth player since the ATP Masters 1000 series began in 1990 to achieve this milestone. Alongside legends Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray, and Alexander Zverev, Sinner’s name is now etched in ATP history.
The only other player to have completed the full set recently was Zverev, who achieved the feat earlier this year at Indian Wells.
In addition to his semifinal accomplishment, Sinner is already a proven champion at the ATP Masters 1000 level. The Italian has claimed eight titles, with his first victory coming in Toronto in 2023.
Sinner, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, has enjoyed remarkable success recently, winning the past four Masters 1000 events: Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte-Carlo. With an impressive 26-match win streak at this level, he is now eyeing the chance to become the first player ever to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles.
If he goes on to win the Madrid title and triumphs at Rome next month, Sinner would complete the coveted Career Golden Masters, a rare feat only achieved by Novak Djokovic, who holds the record with 40 Masters 1000 titles.
By defeating Jodar, Sinner has also joined Federer (2006) and Nadal (2010, 2011) as the only men to reach the semifinals at all of the first four Masters 1000 events in a season.
With his form continuing to peak, Sinner is undoubtedly one of the most formidable players in modern tennis, pushing toward even greater records.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-Imagn Images
