May 12, 2026 – ROME – Jannik Sinner continues to shatter records, solidifying his dominance in the tennis world. The world No. 1 advanced to the quarterfinals of the Italian Open by defeating qualifier Andrea Pellegrino 6-2, 6-3 on Tuesday. With this victory, Sinner equaled Novak Djokovic’s record of 31 consecutive Masters Series wins, a testament to his resilience and skill on the court.
Since an unfortunate early exit due to cramps during an extreme heat match against Tallon Griekspoor in Shanghai last October, Sinner has not faced defeat in a Masters Series event. Djokovic’s previous record for consecutive Masters match wins dates back to 2011.
“If you want to be a great player, you’ve got to play on all the surfaces and all the tournaments at your maximum,” Sinner remarked in a post-match interview, emphasizing the mental fortitude required for success at this level.
In a match played before a buoyant crowd at Campo Centrale, where many fans sported orange – Sinner’s signature color – he quickly seized control by breaking Pellegrino in the opening game. The victory improves Sinner’s record against fellow Italians to an impressive 19-0.
Should Sinner lift the trophy in Rome, he would join Djokovic in the elite club of players who have won all nine Masters 1000 events. Notably, Djokovic has achieved this feat multiple times.
Sinner’s current winning streak is an astounding 26 matches, with his last loss occurring against Jakub Mensik at the Qatar Open on February 19. In the quarterfinals, Sinner will face 12th seed Andrey Rublev, who secured his place with a tough match victory over Georgian qualifier Nikoloz Basilashvili, winning 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-2.
Additionally, 19-year-old Rafael Jodar made headlines by defeating Learner Tien 6-1, 6-4, to become only the second teenager since Rafael Nadal in 2005 to reach the quarterfinals of both the Madrid and Rome tournaments in the same season. Jodar’s next challenge will be against Luciano Darderi, who pulled off a stunning comeback against two-time Rome champion Alexander Zverev.
In another noteworthy performance, Casper Ruud moved past Lorenzo Musetti with a commanding 6-3, 6-1 win, despite Musetti dealing with a left thigh injury. Ruud will face Karen Khachanov next, who triumphed over Dino Prizmic in straight sets.
Turning to the women’s draw, Coco Gauff continued her strong run, reaching the semifinals for the third year in a row after overcoming Mirra Andreeva 4-6, 6-2, 6-4. Gauff, who was the runner-up in Rome last year, is preparing to defend her title at the French Open.
Next up for Gauff is a matchup against 36-year-old Sorana Cirstea, who eliminated former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets. Cirstea’s remarkable performance at this stage of her career has also made her the second-oldest semifinalist in a WTA 1000 clay-court event, behind only Martina Navratilova.
Cirstea shared her thoughts on her longevity in the sport, stating, “I always said there’s no expiration date for ambition and dreams. I think everyone can see that I absolutely love this sport. I have so much passion for it.”
Defending champion Jasmine Paolini, however, withdrew from the doubles competition due to a minor foot issue after losing in the third round of singles. She and partner Sara Errani, the defending doubles champions, will not have the chance to defend their title at this year’s event.
