World No. 1 Jannik Sinner kept his remarkable run alive on Friday, cruising past France’s rising star Arthur Fils to book a place in the Mutua Madrid Open championship match.
The 24‑year‑old Italian displayed a masterclass of power and precision, dismantling Fils in straight sets, 6‑2, 6‑4, and doing so in just 85 minutes inside the iconic Manolo Santana Stadium. Sinner entered the encounter riding a nine‑match winning streak that had already seen him claim the Barcelona title. From the first point, he imposed his game, serving aggressively and converting the majority of his first‑serve opportunities – he dropped only three of the 24 first‑serve points he faced. He never allowed Fils a single break‑point, a testament to his dominance on both serve and return.
"I tried to be very aggressive," Sinner explained after the match. "I felt very comfortable on the return. In the second set, he started to serve better, so it was more difficult, but I’m very happy with the overall performance today. I’m trying to play the best possible tennis, and today was a very good day in the office." The Italian’s baseline game was relentless, dictating rallies and punctuating them with deft drop shots that left Fils scrambling.
Those tactics proved decisive, handing the Frenchman his first defeat on clay this season. Although Fils fought back in the second set, varying his pace and trying to stretch points, Sinner secured a crucial break that allowed him to close out the match without further drama. Looking ahead, Sinner’s next opponent will be the third‑seeded German Alexander Zverev, who earned his spot by beating Belgium’s Alexander Blockx 6‑2, 7‑5 in the semi‑finals.
Zverev, a veteran of four Madrid finals – a record he shares with legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal – praised the Italian’s form. "I’m very happy to be in a final after a tough start to the tournament," Zverev said. "I look forward to playing Jannik again; it will be a tough match.
The better player will win on Sunday." Zverev added a note of confidence, noting that Sinner appears almost effortless at the moment. "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." Sky Sports analyst Miles Maclagan described the semi‑final as "another day at the office for Jannik Sinner," highlighting his brilliance in the opening set and his workmanlike consistency in the second. He also pointed out that the match served as a learning experience for the young Frenchman.
"The gap between how good Fils is, how dangerous he can be, and the very best is evident. He’ll improve, but he wasn’t really allowed to play his own game, especially in that first set. It was spectacular from Sinner, who was clinical." Former doubles specialist Colin Fleming echoed the sentiment, calling Sinner’s performance "remarkable" and noting that it was pure business from start to finish. By reaching the Madrid final, Sinner joined an exclusive club: he became only the fourth player ever to make the final of all nine ATP Masters 1000 events, following in the footsteps of Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.
Moreover, he achieved this milestone at a younger age than any of his predecessors. His current streak of 27 consecutive wins at the Masters 1000 level includes titles in Paris (2023), Indian Wells, Miami and Monte‑Carlo (all in 2026), underscoring his consistency on the biggest stages.
If Sinner captures the Madrid crown and then triumphs in Rome, he will complete the career Golden Masters – a feat achieved only by Djokovic to date. Such a accomplishment would cement his status as one of the sport’s all‑time greats and add another historic chapter to his rapidly building legacy. Reflecting on his journey, Sinner told Sky Sports, "One more final here, it’s an amazing result.
The most important thing for me was raising my level today, 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 upcoming final promises a clash of contrasting styles: Sinner’s relentless aggression versus Zverev’s experience and tactical versatility.
Tennis enthusiasts can look forward to a high‑quality contest that could decide not only the Madrid champion but also shape the narrative of the clay‑court season as players gear up for the French Open. For fans eager 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 percent more live sport coverage this year.