32 and counting: Sinner’s ‘own story’ gets a record feel

In his pomp, Novak Djokovic was called a machine. Some are now calling Jannik Sinner a robot.

- Rutvick Mehta

Jannik Sinner has broken Novak Djokovic's long-standing record for the longest winning run at the ATP Masters 1000 level.

Make what you will of that term, but those who play the sport at the highest level know. “When you realise how difficult tennis is,” Casper Ruud, the former world No.2 currently ranked 25th, told TNTSports, “if you can make it look robotic, it shows how good you are.”

Sinner, at the moment, is too darn good. So good that he has taken down an eye-popping Djokovic record that stood for 15 years with mind-boggling dominance and nonchalance. “I don't play for records,” the world No.1 said on Thursday. “I play just for my own story.”

The latest story in his history-setting book is Sinner breaking Djokovic's all-time record for most consecutive wins at the ATP Masters 1000 events, which are just below Grand Slams in status.

The Italian's 6-2, 6-4 quarter-final victory against Russian Andrey Rublev in Rome was his 32nd on the trot at the Masters, surpassing Djokovic's tally of 31 in 2011.

The routine-like day out exemplified Sinner’s past few months where he has made winning look routine.