“No one has ever done it”: Matteo Berrettini praises Sinner after Madrid title and record Masters streak

Matteo Berrettini has praised compatriot Jannik Sinner following his dominant title run at the Madrid Open, where the world No. 1 extended his control over the ATP Tour. Sinner defeated world No. 3 Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 in the final, completing a one-sided performance that underlined his current level.

The 24-year-old’s victory marked his fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title, a sequence that began at the Paris Masters in late 2025 and has continued through Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and now Madrid. No player in ATP history has previously achieved such a run at this level.

Sinner’s performance in Madrid reflected the broader pattern of his recent results. He controlled the final from the outset, building a 5-0 lead in just 17 minutes and closing the first set in 26 minutes. The second set followed a similar trajectory, with Zverev unable to disrupt the Italian’s rhythm. Sinner completed the match in under an hour, securing another title and extending a winning streak that now defines the 2026 season.

One of the closest figures to Sinner within the Tour is his compatriot Berrettini, Davis Cup teammate, who has witnessed up close Sinner’s rise from a young prospect to the clear dominant force on the circuit. Even the former world No. 6 admitted that “we’re running out of words” to describe the current level of the world No. 1.

After the Madrid Open, attention quickly shifts to the Rome Open, where Sinner will once again be the favourite for the title and will aim to continue making history. The world No. 1 has now won 28 consecutive Masters 1000 matches and holds a 30-2 record for the season. Across his career, he has claimed eight of the nine Masters titles currently available, and the final one could be completed in Rome.

Precisely during promotional activities ahead of the start of the tournament, current world No. 100 Matteo Berrettini, another of Italy’s leading figures, commented on his compatriot’s latest achievement, describing it as unprecedented within the sport.

“From the outside, I can't even explain it,” Berrettini told Sky Sports in Rome. “No one has ever done it in history. We're running out of words to describe what he's doing, and the apparent ease with which he does it. He's impressive, he makes us all proud.”

Beyond results, Berrettini pointed to Sinner’s internal resilience as a key factor behind his sustained success. He noted that even within high-performing teams, fluctuations in form and motivation are inevitable, but Sinner has managed those situations effectively.

“Of course, internally, within the team, there are tough moments, maybe physically or motivation-wise, maybe he even has bad days — but he's able to turn them into good days,” Berrettini said. “And I think that's his greatest strength, in addition to his immense talent and the work he puts in.”

Sinner’s next objective comes at the Italian Open in Rome, scheduled from May 6 to May 17. A title there would see him equal Novak Djokovic’s record of nine Masters 1000 titles, although the Serbian achieved it by winning each tournament multiple times. In any case, Sinner’s run remains historic.

Sinner’s campaign will not begin until at least Friday after receiving a first-round bye. He awaits the winner between Sebastian Ofner and Alex Michelsen. Meanwhile, Berrettini has been placed in the upper half of the draw and will debut in the first round against Alexei Popyrin. A potential third-round meeting between the two Italians remains possible, although Berrettini will first need to overcome difficult tests against Popyrin and 26th seed Jakub Mensik.