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 in efficiency, dismantling Fils 6‑2, 6‑4 in just 85 minutes on the storied Manolo Santana Stadium, marking his fifth straight Masters 1000 final appearance. Sinner entered the encounter riding a nine‑match winning streak, the most recent triumph coming in Barcelona. From the first point, the Italian was in control, serving with pinpoint accuracy—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 after the match.
"I felt very comfortable on the return. In the second set he began to serve a little better, which made things a bit tougher, but overall I’m delighted with my performance today. I aim to play the best tennis possible, and today felt like a very good day at the office." The victory not only pushes Sinner toward a potential fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title but also brings him closer to a rare career milestone. By reaching the Madrid final, he joins an elite quartet—Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal—as the only players to have contested the final of every single Masters 1000 event.
Moreover, Sinner is the youngest athlete ever to accomplish this feat, underscoring his rapid ascent in the sport. Throughout the match, Sinner dictated the baseline rallies, mixing in deft drop shots that left Fils scrambling. The French youngster, who had been the only player to beat Sinner on clay earlier in the season, struggled to find a rhythm. While he showed flashes of resistance in the second set, varying his tactics to stay competitive, Sinner secured a decisive break and closed out the match without looking back.
"I knew before the match that he’s one of the best players in the world right now," Sinner said of his opponent. "I’m very happy to have played against him.
He’s great for tennis and for the sport as a whole." 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 contender who has reached the Madrid final four times—matching the record set by Federer and Nadal—expressed enthusiasm about the upcoming clash. "I’m very happy to be in a final. There were a lot of tough battles, especially at the start of the tournament," Zverev remarked.
"I’m looking forward to playing Jannik again and expect a tough match. The better player will win on Sunday." Zverev added a note of confidence, noting Sinner’s current dominance: "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 level required to beat a top‑tier player like Sinner. "The match underlined the gap between how good Fils is, how dangerous he can be, and the very best.
He’ll improve, but today he wasn’t really allowed to play his game, especially in the first set. It was spectacular from Sinner, who was clinical," Maclagan observed.
Former doubles specialist Colin Fleming echoed the sentiment, calling Sinner’s display “remarkable” and emphasizing the business‑like approach the Italian took throughout the contest. With the Madrid final now secured, Sinner’s résumé continues to expand. He has compiled a streak of 27 consecutive wins at the Masters 1000 level, a run that includes titles in Paris (last year) and a sweep of Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte‑Carlo in 2026.
He already holds eight Masters 1000 crowns, his inaugural victory at that tier coming in Toronto in 2023. Should he capture the Madrid trophy and then triumph in Rome, Sinner would achieve the career Golden Masters—a feat accomplished only by Novak Djokovic, who boasts a record 40 Masters 1000 titles. The prospect of joining Djokovic in that exclusive club adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming final. 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 Madrid Open continues to deliver high‑stakes drama as the world’s best converge on the Spanish capital. Fans can follow the final live on Sky Sports or stream via NOW and the Sky Sports app, which offers more than 50 percent additional live sport coverage at no extra charge for subscribers. The culmination of this tournament promises to be a defining moment in Sinner’s already glittering career, with the potential to cement his status among the all‑time greats of men’s tennis.