Jannik Sinner has broken Novak Djokovic's all-time record of successive match wins at ATP Masters 1000 tournaments by recording the 32nd straight victory of his historic streak to reach the Italian Open semi-finals.
The Italian world number one overpowered 12th seed Andrey Rublev 6-2 6-4 to continue his bid to join Djokovic as only the second man to win all nine Masters 1000 titles - the sport's highest level below the Grand Slams.
24-year-old Sinner appears in unstoppable form before the French Open - the only major standing between him and a career Grand Slam - begins on May 24th.
He has joined Spanish great Rafael Nadal as the only other man to reach semi-finals at each of the first five Masters 1000 events in a season, and will face Russian Daniil Medvedev for a place in the showpiece final.
Seventh seed Medvedev lost the first five games against Spanish lucky loser Martin Landaluce as he conceded the opening set in just 26 minutes, but battled back to win 1-6 6-4 7-5 and reach his first semi-final in the clay-court swing.
Sinner says he does not play for records but he plays just for his own story.
He says at the same time, it means a lot to him but tomorrow is another opponent, in different conditions.
He adds the highest priority for him is trying to recover as much as he can physically.
Source: BBC News
