Jannik Sinner extends dominance with 25th straight win

Italy’s Jannik Sinner stretches to return the ball to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, during their match at the Italian Open tennis tournament in Rome, Monday, May 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

ROME— Jannik Sinner’s winning streak reached 25 matches after beating Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 6-0 before his home fans in the third round of the Italian Open on Monday.

The top-ranked Sinner set the tone when he broke 60th-ranked Popyrin in the opening game.

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Sinner is heavily favored to win the Rome tournament with Carlos Alcaraz sidelined due to a right wrist injury.

Sinner hasn’t lost since Feb. 19, to Jakub Mensik in the Qatar Open quarterfinals. He’ll next face a fellow Italian, qualifier Andrea Pellegrino, who beat Frances Tiafoe.

If Sinner raises the trophy in Rome, he’ll become the second man after Novak Djokovic to triumph at all nine Masters 1000 events. Djokovic has won each event at least twice.

Sinner has won five straight Masters events and has the second-most consecutive wins at that level with 30. Djokovic has the record of 31.