Jannik Sinner created history at the 2026 Madrid Open as the first man in ATP Tour history to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles. The Italian is on a 28-match unbeaten streak at the level, having won the 2025 Paris Masters before his clean sweep at the first four Masters 1000 tournaments of 2026.
There has been one common element in all five triumphs – a win against Alexander Zverev. On Sunday, May 3, the Italian left Zverev in the dust with a 6-1, 6-2 win in the title clash that lasted just 58 minutes.
The Sinner-Zverev rivalry started with the Italian winning their first match at the 2020 French Open. Zverev seemed to have turned the tide as he won their next four clashes. But it has since been a lopsided rivalry, with Sinner winning their last nine matches to establish a 10-4 lead.
Alexander Zverev Fails To Challenge Jannik Sinner at Madrid Open
After losing four consecutive Masters 1000 semifinals (Paris, Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte-Carlo) against the Italian, Zverev hoped for a different outcome, this time in the final. However, he was no match for Sinner this time around either, as the Italian crushed him with a record-breaking 9.8 performance rating in Madrid.
After failing to pose a challenge in the title clash, Alexander Zverev apologized to the crowd. The two-time Madrid Open champion (2018 and 2021) then recognized his rival’s dominance.
“First of all, super sorry for the fina; it was not my best day,” the German said. “Of course, congratulations to Jannik, best player in the world by far at the moment. No chance for most of the people; no chance for us at the moment against you. To you team, you guys are doing an incredible job every single week.”
“I hope… one week or maybe the French Open; just have a break,” he joked, laughing nervously.
The 58-minute final is the quickest men’s title clash recorded in Madrid Open history, the second being Zverev’s 62-minute 6-3, 6-1 loss to Carlos Alcaraz in 2022. Jannik Sinner congratulated his opponent on a successful tournament while acknowledging that Zverev played below his usual level.
“Sascha, once again, great week to you and your team. I know it was not your best day today, but I wish you only the best for the rest of the season,” he said.
Sinner is now one title away from completing the set of Masters 1000 titles. He won his first trophy at that level at the Canadian Open in 2023. The following year, he clinched the Miami Open, the Cincinnati Open, and the Shanghai Masters, and in 2025, he won the Paris Masters. This year, he lifted the trophies in Indian Wells, Monte-Carlo, and Madrid and also became a champion in Miami for the second time.
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The only one left is his home tournament, the Italian Open, where the ATP tour is headed next (May 5-17). Sinner will look to clinch the missing cup with support from his home crowd ahead of the French Open.
