Fresh off a hard-fought opening win, Jannik Sinner offered a different kind of statement at the 2026 Madrid Open. Instead of retreating to recovery mode, the World No. 1 was seen courtside in the stands at Manolo Santana Center Court, closely watching Alex de Minaur take on Spanish wildcard Rafa Jódar.
Jannik Sinner’s Courtside Presence Adds Spotlight to Alex De Minaur–Rafael Jódar Clash
Sinner arrived in the Spanish capital as the undisputed favorite, holding the World No. 1 ranking and the top seed. His recent form has been dominant. The Italian captured the Monte Carlo title earlier this month. It extended his remarkable ATP Masters 1000 winning streak to 23 matches, a stretch that includes his “Sunshine Double” triumphs at Indian Wells and Miami.
With both Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz absent from the draw, the spotlight has shifted squarely onto Sinner as he chases what would be a historic fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title. His Madrid campaign began with a stern test against French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi.
Just two hours after sealing that win, he returned to the same court, this time as a spectator, watching De Minaur face Jódar. The match itself turned into a one-sided affair, with the local wildcard producing an impressive 6-3, 6-1 victory over the fifth seed. From his seat in the stands, Sinner was captured by the broadcast cameras observing the match intently.
How Did Sinner Bounce Back After Dropping the Opening Set in Madrid?
The World No. 1 struggled with early fatigue and uncharacteristic service woes, failing to convert five break-point opportunities in a tense first set. Bonzi took full advantage of the Italian’s sluggish start, clinching the opening set in a tiebreak.
MORE: Jannik Sinner Stunned by Carlos Alcaraz’s Rome and Paris Abandonment
However, Sinner demonstrated resilience by adjusting his return positioning and flattening his backhand exchanges in the second set. He dominated the latter half of the match, dropping only one game in the second set and securing a decisive break in the third to finish with a 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-4 victory.
Despite some physical concerns noted by analysts during his opening match, Sinner’s statistical performance remained high, finishing the match with 10 aces and winning 85% of his first-serve points. Looking ahead, Sinner advanced to the third round in Madrid, where he will face the Danish qualifier, Elmer Møller.
This will be their first meeting on the ATP Tour, with the winner meeting either the 19th seed, Cameron Norrie, or Thiago Agustín Tirante in the fourth round.
