Throughout the week in Madrid, the presence of Jude Bellingham and Thibaut Courtois watching matches at the Caja Mágica became a regular sight. Neither could attend Sunday’s final due to Real Madrid’s match at Espanyol, but they didn’t miss much: Jannik Sinner’s demolition of Alexander Zverev in 57 minutes became the second-fastest Masters 1000 final without a retirement.
Sinner’s run of five consecutive Masters 1000 titles is unprecedented, surpassing even Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. His last loss at a Masters event was a third-round retirement in Shanghai, and he has now won 28 straight matches at Masters tournaments. As he returns to Rome for the Italian Open, he has the chance to surpass Federer’s 29-win streak and then Djokovic’s 31.
Zverev, after losing 6-1 6-2, said: “Today I would have lost to anybody. I think there's a big gap between Sinner and everybody else.” The world No.3 added that there are two gaps now: Sinner alone, then Alcaraz, himself and maybe Djokovic. With Alcaraz injured and Djokovic absent, Sinner heads to Roland Garros as perhaps the biggest favourite since Djokovic’s 2021 Wimbledon title.
Sinner insists he does not “play for records”, saying: “I cannot compare myself with Rafa, Roger, Novak. I play for myself.” Yet his laser focus and dominance are undeniable, having started the season by winning Indian Wells and Miami without dropping a set, then reclaiming world No.1 by beating Alcaraz in Monte Carlo. With Alcaraz absent, Sinner has his eyes on an all-time run that could encompass Rome and Roland Garros.
