Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, moved within two victories of claiming his first Italian Open title on Thursday, 14 May 2026, dismantling Andrey Rublev 6-2, 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome. The home favourite delivered a composed, controlled performance — blending disciplined baseline rallies with sharp, aggressive shot-making — to book his place in the last four.

A Record-Breaking Winning Streak

The victory extended Sinner's remarkable winning streak to 27 consecutive matches and, more significantly, marked his 32nd straight Masters 1000 win — surpassing Novak Djokovic's previous record of 31, set back in 2011. Since launching this run at Indian Wells in March, Sinner has dropped only two sets across those 27 victories, a statistic that underscores his dominance on the ATP Tour this season.

With the win, Sinner joined Rafael Nadal as the only players in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals at the first five Masters 1000 tournaments of a calendar season — a feat Nadal accomplished in 2010 and 2011. The 24-year-old Italian has already lifted titles at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte-Carlo, and Madrid in 2026.

What the Match Looked Like

Rublev started competitively and produced flashes of his aggressive best, but Sinner seized control during the decisive moments. The Italian conceded his serve for the first time in the tournament after leading 4-1 in the second set, yet recovered quickly to close out the match. His head-to-head record against Rublev now stands at 8-3 in his favour.

'He's a very dangerous player,' Sinner said of his opponent. 'When he plays at his highest level, he's very tough to beat. I felt like we both didn't play at our best today, but the conditions are very tough here. So, I tried to adapt myself in the best possible way. I'm obviously very happy. It's a very special tournament for me.'

The Historic Stakes in Rome

A title in Rome would place Sinner alongside Novak Djokovic as the only men to complete the Career Golden Masters — winning every Masters 1000 event at least once. It would also end a 50-year wait for Italian fans: Adriano Panatta remains the last Italian man to win the Roman clay crown, having done so in 1976.

Last year, Sinner reached the final here before falling to rival Carlos Alcaraz. He arrives at this edition in considerably sharper form, with a sixth consecutive Masters 1000 title within reach after also winning Paris last season.

'I don't play for records,' Sinner said after the match. 'I play for my own story. At the same time, it means a lot to me. But tomorrow is another day, a different opponent, different conditions... Emotionally, it takes a lot to play here at home. But at the same time, I definitely try to do my best. It was a good day today.'

What Comes Next

Sinner will face either former champion Daniil Medvedev or lucky loser Martin Landaluce in the semi-finals. Earlier this season, Sinner suffered a semi-final defeat to Djokovic at the Australian Open and a quarter-final exit against Jakub Mensik in Doha — setbacks that appear to have sharpened rather than unsettled him. With the French Open looming on the horizon, Rome represents both a title opportunity and a critical form test on clay.