Master Blaster: Sinner Scores Record 32nd Straight Masters Win for Rome Semifinals
By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, May 14, 2026
Photo credit: Internazionali BNL d’Italia Facebook
A damaging return torched Andrey Rublev’s toes like lava causing the Russian to recoil from the red dirt.
Charring explosive drives, Jack Sinner overcame a subpar serving day with searing returns to hit his way into history.
World No. 1 Sinner swept Rublev 6-2, 6-4 reaching the Rome semifinals with his record 32nd consecutive ATP Masters 1000 win to break the mark he previously shared with Grand Slam King Novak Djokovic.
It is Sinner’s 27th straight win this season as he joins legendary Adriano Panatta as the second Italian man to make multiple Rome semifinals.
Continuing his quest to capture his sixth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 championship, Sinner improved to 34-2 on the season.
The 24-year-old Italian now stands two wins away from joining Djokovic as the second man to win all nine ATP Masters 1000 championships.
Sinner will face either seventh-seeded Daniil Medvedev or Spanish lucky loser Martin Landaluce for a spot in Sunday’s final.
Though he served only 49 percent today and seemed to fade physically a bit in the second set hunching over to catch his breath a couple of times, Sinner was commanding in winning 10 of the first 13 games. Sinner converted four of five break points and repeatedly forced Rublev to counter off his back foot on second serve during that superior span.
Four years ago, Rublev prevailed at Roland Garros when Sinner retired from their round-of-16 match.
Knowing a fast start is imperative against the world No. 1, Rublev went up 40-15, but saw Sinner storm back for break point.
As a 20-shot rally escalated, Sinner stepped in and curled a crosscourt forehand winner off the sideline scoring the opening break.
Sinner torched his two-hander down the line then lashed a forehand down the opposite sideline backing up the break at love for 2-0.
Rublev earned two break points in the fourth game and narrowly missed a forehand winner on one of the break points, but Sinner stood tall through an eight-minute hold crashing an ace off the sideline for 3-1.
The 24-year-old Italian ran off eight straight points backing up a love hold with a shutout break for 5-2.
The Wimbledon winner whipped the wide serve for a one-set lead after 40 minutes.
The Rublev slice serve was sometimes shredded by Sinner’s return when the Russian missed a first serve. Sinner sent a series of damaging returns forcing a framed forehand reply as he broke to start the second set.
Sixty-three minutes into the match, Rublev pulled off the rare shank smash drop shot winner. Soaring high for a lob, the Russian mishit the smash off the very top of the frame and watch the ball float over the net as he dodged a break point.
That was a temporary reprieve.
Running out of ideas, Rublev netted a drop shot to face another break point then slapped a flat forehand off the Emirates sign affixed to net as Sinner broke again for a commanding 6-2, 4-1 lead.
Coach Marat Safin raised clenched fists from the box exhorting his charge to keep fighting. Rublev responded to his coach with a break point in the sixth game. Following a forehand forward to the frontcourt, where he typically does not operate effectively, this time Rublev snapped off a smash winner to break for 2-4 snapping Sinner’s streak of 61 consecutive holds.
Landing his first serve, Rublev held at 30 to narrow the gap to 3-4.
Sinner swatted a forehand swing volley for match point and slid the wide serve closing in 91 minutes.
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