Sinner wins record fifth straight Masters title ahead of Rome homecoming

Jannik Sinner became the first player to win five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles, beating Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 in 59 minutes in Madrid on Sunday.tennismajors
No player had achieved the feat since the Masters series began in 1990; Sinner now targets Novak Djokovic‘s record of 31 straight Masters match wins at his home event in Rome.tennismajors
Taylor Fritz, ranked No. 7, withdrew from the Italian Open due to knee tendonitis, his third consecutive clay Masters absence, with Carlos Alcaraz also out injured.tennisuptodate

Taylor Fritz Withdraws From Rome, Missing Third Straight Clay Court Masters

Taylor Fritz will not compete at the 2026 Internazionali BNL d’Italia, withdrawing from the tournament due to persistent knee tendonitis that has sidelined the American for the entirety of the European clay court season. The Rome Masters, which begins Tuesday, May 5, at the Foro Italico, will be the third consecutive Masters 1000 event Fritz has missed on clay this year.yahoo

A Season Disrupted by Injury

Fritz, ranked No. 7 in the world and seeded ninth in the Rome draw, has been managing tendonitis in his right knee since the start of 2026. After exiting in the fourth round at the Miami Open, the 28-year-old indicated he was considering sitting out the entire clay court swing. He subsequently pulled out of Munich and Madrid before adding Rome to the list.tennisuptodate

“Taylor Fritz will miss a third consecutive Masters 1000 on clay,” read a post from The Tennis Gazette account, noting the withdrawal raises questions about his readiness ahead of the French Open later this month.instagram

Fritz reached the quarterfinals in Rome in 2024, and his absence deprives the draw of one of its top American contenders. Zachary Svajda has entered as his replacement.yahoo

Sinner Arrives in Rome as Overwhelming Favorite

The tournament will be headlined by Jannik Sinner, who arrives in Rome riding a historic wave of form. The world No. 1 captured the Madrid Open title on Sunday, demolishing Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-2 in just 59 minutes to become the first player ever to win five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles. The Italian has now won 24 straight matches and 28 consecutive Masters 1000 contests, putting Novak Djokovic’s record of 31 in his sights.yahoo

Carlos Alcaraz, last year’s Rome champion, has also withdrawn from the event, leaving Sinner and Zverev as the top two seeds.yardbarker

French Open Implications

Fritz’s prolonged absence from clay raises questions about his preparedness for Roland-Garros, which begins later in May. The Rome tournament, running through May 17, serves as the final tune-up for players ahead of the season’s second Grand Slam. Whether Fritz will return for the French Open or continue to prioritize recovery remains unclear, though his decision to skip Rome suggests the knee issue has not yet resolved.tennisuptodate