Sin Bolt: Streaking Sinner Stretches Masters Win Streak, Talks Regaining No. 1 in Monte-Carlo
By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, April 7, 2026
Photo credit: Antoine Couvercelle/ROLEX
Sprinting through his Monte-Carlo return, Jannik Sinner barely broke a sweat before running into Olympic legend Usain Bolt for a post-match chat.
World No. 2 Sinner continues to breeze by the ATP pack in Masters play—and gain ground on Carlos Alcaraz in his quest to regain world No. 1.
A streaking Sinner charged through eight straight games dismissing Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-0 in his 2026 debut at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.
An oppressive Sinner won 21 of 23 first-serve points and did not face a single break point in a 64-minute rout extending his commanding Masters 1000 mastery. Sinner improved to 20-2 on the season, becoming the first man to register 20 Tour-level wins this year.
Last month, Sinner made history as the first man to sweep the Sunshine Double—capturing ATP Masters 1000 crowns in Indian Wells and Miami in succession—without surrendering a set.
Now, Sinner is riding a record Masters winning streak toward regaining the top spot.
Rolex Paris Masters champion Sinner scored his 18th consecutive victory at ATP Masters 1000 level today while extending his record run of 36 straight sets won in Masters 1000 play.
Sinner, who lives in Monte-Carlo and often practices at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, said his 2026 red-clay debut feels like a homecoming.
“Better than expected. I don’t know I’m just very happy to be be back in Europe, especially here sleeping in my own bed,” Sinner told Tennis Channel’s Prakash Amritraj afterward. “You see tennis in a different view. I’m slightly more relaxed.
“A really really solid performance today against a really tough player. First match on clay court is not easy, but now let’s see what’s coming.”
Though Sinner had little turnaround time fo adapt from the Hard Rock Stadium’s hard court to the higher-bouncing red clay of Monte Carlo, the Wimbledon winner said knowing he has time off after this tournament takes some pressure off.
“I think the best practice is an official match,” Sinner told Prakash Amritraj on Tennis Channel. “Whatever comes its’ a really good bonus. “Mentally, I know after here, I have some days which helps me to recover for Madrid, Rome and then of course Paris.”
In Paris, Sinner held championship points in the 2025 Roland Garros final only to see an astounding Alcaraz elevate his play and make the Italian’s title hopes disappear in one of the most dramatic French Open finals in Open Era history.
Sinner starts this week in Monte-Carlo knowing he can only gain ranking points—and regain world No. 1 by taking Alcaraz’s title. Alcaraz arrives in Monte-Carlo armed with 13,590 ranking points, but he’s defending 1,000 points from his run to the 2025 Monte-Carlo championship. Sinner, who holds 12,400 points, is defending nothing in the Principality and can rise back to No. 1 winning his maiden Monte-Carlo crown.
| Player | R32 | R16 | QF | SF | FINAL | TITLE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz | 12,600 | 12,690 | 12,790 | 12,990 | 13,240 | 13,590 |
| No. 2 Jannik Sinner | 12,400 | 12,450 | 12,550 | 12,750 | 13,000 | 13,350 |
Though the top spot is within sight, the Sunshine Double ruler said it’s a motivation not an obsession.
“I come here with just feeling quite free, you know,” Sinner said. “I think whatever the result is I don’t want to put pressure or anything else.
“At the end of the day No. 1 is important, but more important for me as a player is to improve on this surface. I haven’t won anything yet, talking about big titles, but I was close. It’s a new year, new season new opportunities.”
Sinner will face either 16th-seeded Argentinean Francisco Cerundolo or Tomas Machac in the third round.
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