World No. 1 Jannik Sinner kept his remarkable run alive on Friday, cruising past France’s rising talent Arthur Fils to book a place in the Mutua Madrid Open championship match. The 24‑year‑old Italian displayed a masterclass, dismantling Fils 6‑2, 6‑4 in a match that lasted just 85 minutes inside the iconic Manolo Santana Stadium.
Sinner entered the encounter riding a nine‑match winning streak that included a dominant performance in Barcelona. From the first point, he imposed his game, serving with precision—dropping only three of 24 first‑serve points—and never allowing Fils a single break‑point opportunity. "I tried to be very aggressive," Sinner explained afterward, noting his comfort on the return and the slight uptick in Fils’ serving in the second set.
"I’m very happy with the overall performance today. I aim to play the best tennis possible, and today was a very good day at the office." The victory marks Sinner’s fifth straight appearance in a Masters 1000 final, a consistency only a handful of the sport’s greats have managed. By reaching the Madrid final, he joins an elite club that includes Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal as the only players to have contested the final of every Masters 1000 event. Moreover, Sinner is the youngest athlete ever to achieve this milestone.
On clay, Sinner’s game was a blend of relentless baseline aggression and delicate touch. He dictated rallies, using deep, heavy groundstrokes to push Fils back, then punctuated the exchanges with well‑timed drop shots that left the Frenchman scrambling. The Italians’ control was evident as he broke Fils early in the first set and never looked back. In the second set, Fils attempted to vary his tactics, mixing in more spin and trying to find angles, but Sinner’s superior movement and tactical acumen allowed him to secure a decisive break before closing the match.
Speaking about his opponent, Sinner praised Fils, saying, "I knew before the match that he is one of the best players in the world right now. I’m very happy to have played against him; he is great for tennis and for the sport." Sinner’s next challenge will be a showdown with the third‑seeded Alexander Zverev, who earned his spot in the final by defeating Belgian qualifier Alexander Blockx 6‑2, 7‑5 in the semi‑final. Zverev, a seasoned competitor who has reached the Madrid final four times—joining Federer and Nadal in that exclusive group—expressed his respect for Sinner’s form. "I’m very happy to be in a final.
There have been many tough battles, especially at the start of the tournament," Zverev said. "I look forward to playing Jannik again and expect a tough match. The better player will win on Sunday." Zverev added a hint of confidence, noting, "Tennis is very easy for him right now, the way he is playing.
Maybe on Sunday I will make it a bit more difficult for him. The last eight times I didn’t win much. He is the best player in the world for sure, and I will try to give him a tough battle." Analyst Miles Maclagan praised Sinner’s performance, describing it as another “day at the office” for the Italian star. He highlighted the contrast between Fils’ potential and the current gap to the very top, saying, "The match underlined the gap between how good Fils is, how dangerous he is, to the very best, and he will improve.
He will take stock and be a little frustrated with his performance but he wasn’t really allowed to play, particularly in that first set. It was really spectacular from Sinner, who was clinical." Former doubles specialist Colin Fleming echoed the sentiment, calling Sinner’s display “remarkable” and emphasizing the business‑like efficiency of his play.
With this win, Sinner not only extended his streak of 27 consecutive matches won at the Masters 1000 level—a run that includes titles in Paris (2025), Indian Wells, Miami and Monte‑Carlo (2026)—but also solidified his status as an eight‑time Masters 1000 champion. His first triumph at this tier came in Toronto in 2023, and he has since added titles across all surfaces. Should Sinner capture the Madrid crown and then prevail in Rome, he would achieve the coveted career Golden Masters, a feat previously accomplished only by Novak Djokovic, who holds a record 40 Masters 1000 titles.
The prospect of joining Djokovic in this exclusive company adds an extra layer of intrigue to the upcoming final. Reflecting on his journey, Sinner told Sky Sports, "One more final here, it’s an amazing result. For me, the most important thing was trying to raise my level today, which I did, especially in the first set—very, very aggressive and I’m changing direction very well. I’m very happy to close it out in two and it means a lot to me, of course." The Madrid Open final promises to be a clash of contrasting styles: Sinner’s relentless power and precision versus Zverev’s experience and tactical versatility.
Tennis fans can anticipate a high‑quality contest that may well decide the next dominant force on clay. For those wanting to watch the action live, the ATP and WTA tours are available on Sky Sports, with streaming options through NOW and the Sky Sports app, offering subscribers over 50% more live sport this year at no additional cost.