ATP M 1000 ROME. Italy. By Leo Canaparo
Jannik Sinner took another confident step toward tennis history after defeating Sebastian Ofner in straight sets during the second round of the Italian Open.
The world No. 1 is aiming to become just the second player in history, after Novak Djokovic, to complete the prestigious Career Golden Masters by winning all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments.
Sinner has been nearly unstoppable throughout the season. The Italian has captured the last five Masters 1000 titles and suffered only two defeats all year, confirming his status as the dominant force on the ATP Tour.
Playing in front of an enthusiastic home crowd in Rome, Sinner delivered another commanding display, defeating Ofner 6-3, 6-4 and extending his Masters-level winning streak to 29 matches.
The 24-year-old showed complete control from the baseline and behind his serve, never facing a break point and losing only a handful of points on his first delivery.
Rome continues to hold special significance for Sinner, who reached the final here last season after returning from a three-month suspension, eventually finishing runner-up to longtime rival Carlos Alcaraz.
“This tournament has always meant a lot to me,” Sinner said after the match. “I remember starting here years ago with a wildcard, and every season coming back brings new emotions.”
Sinner will next face either Jakub Mensik — one of the few players to defeat him this season — or Alexei Popyrin in the following round.