ATP Tour news: Jannik Sinner creates history as Masters domination continues in Madrid
Madrid stages the second of three Masters 1000 events during the ATP clay court season, held at a considerable altitude of around 2,000 feet and usually in balmy temperatures.
The so-called “big four” (Andy Murray, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic) exerted something of a stranglehold upon the tournament, winning it for 10 straight years in 2008-17.
In more recent times, the current dominant pair of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have claimed the title, along with Andrey Rublev and Casper Ruud.
Following this year’s edition, Sports News Blitz writer and tennis fan AJ Becker takes a look at the implications for both winner and runner-up.
Sinner makes amends for past lows
Even though Sinner has been a dominant force in the last two years, the Italian has not been able to fully capitalise in clay events; he missed a sizeable section of last year’s clay season due to suspension, whilst fitness issues led to withdrawals and retirements in 2024.
A sense of ‘unfinished business’ may therefore have served to galvanise the 24-year-old, whose maiden clay Masters crown in Monte-Carlo has been swiftly followed by success in the Spanish capital.
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History made
Not even the big four referenced above had tasted victory in five consecutive Masters competitions, nor the first four such events of a season; Sinner has now added this to his already breathtaking list of career achievements.
The South Tyrol native is also riding a 23-match winning streak, having not experienced defeat since Jakub Mensik got the better of him in Doha on February 19.
A mere two sets have been ceded in his 28 successive Masters match wins, as he further consolidates his position at the top of the ATP rankings.
Sensational quality, winning mentality
Not only is there a formula to Sinner’s success, one can list its ingredients: powerful serves, ferocious returns, precise groundstrokes, lightning speed, remarkable composure under pressure.
True greats such as those earlier alluded to capture an era yet also transcend it, something Sinner could now be on his way to accomplishing.
With Alexander Zverev – the world number three, it is worth reiterating – simply obliterated (6-1, 6-2) in a final lasting less than an hour, we are now witnessing the unleashing of an all-court force that is beginning to look unstoppable.
Clean sweep on clay?
Sinner’s home event, the Italian Open, gets underway this week and Roland Garros – the centrepiece of the clay season – follows soon afterwards.
With Alcaraz, his only real rival, sidelined for both, it is entirely plausible that the 24-year-old will complete the full set of both Masters and Grand Slam trophies by becoming champion in Rome and Paris.
Moreover, even ‘King of Clay’ Nadal only once (in 2010) delivered a ‘clean sweep’ of all three clay Masters and the French Open in the same year.
With no major obstacle in his way, Sinner could be occupying a rare position on a surface where he was historically found wanting.
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Zverev unable to bridge the gap
Whilst the German at least managed to break his six-match losing run in semi-finals, this came against the inexperienced Belgian Alexander Blockx – a promising young player who eliminated defending champion Ruud, and has now gatecrashed the Top 40.
The subsequent final provided a brutal reminder – if it were needed – of the enormous disparity between the world number three and the two men above him.
Even at a venue that suits his style of play, where he has twice before lifted the trophy, Zverev had no answers to the latest onslaught by Sinner – an opponent he has not overcome in nine encounters stretching back to 2023.
Indeed, Zverev’s participation in the last five Masters contests has been ended by Sinner, with the German mustering a sum total of just 24 games in those ten sets.
With ‘Sascha’ now in the twilight of his twenties and falling further behind the elite, one wonders if the (long-predicted) day when he becomes Grand Slam a holder will ever arrive.
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