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Italian chasing fourth major

Jannik Sinner
© Peter Staples/ATP Tour

by Sam Jacot

Roland Garros — Jun 04

Jannik Sinner equalled his best Roland Garros result on Wednesday, when he ended Alexander Bublik’s run to become the first Italian man in history to reach six major semi-finals.

The Italian raced out of the blocks to storm ahead on Court Philippe-Chatrier, then used his clean timing to redirect Bublik’s power, sealing a 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 victory in one hour and 48 minutes. The No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings has won his past 19 matches at majors, having lifted trophies at the US Open and the Australian Open.

"We played a couple times already, so you know a little bit what to expect," Sinner said. "But in another way, with him, you never know what is happening. He deserved to be in the quarter-finals, he beat very tough opponents. I tried to stay focused from my side of the court and play as solid as possible as he can have some ups and downs. I am trying to serve very well in important moments, which I have done."


Chasing a maiden Roland Garros crown, Sinner will meet Novak Djokovic or Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. The 23-year-old is level at 4-4 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series with Djokovic but trails Zverev 3-4.

Sinner, currently 17-1 on the season according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, joins countryman Lorenzo Musetti in the last four. It is the first time in the Open Era two Italian men have reached the semi-finals of the same Grand Slam even. In 1960, Nicola Pietrangeli and Orlando Sirola advanced to last four in Paris.

"Against this kind of player, you have to be consistent because if you make a lot of mistakes, it is a game where if we both serve very well, there is already not so many rallies. I tried to get rhythm with the rallies," Sinner said on his win against Bublik. "I am very happy and happy with how I arrived in the semi-finals. Semi-finals in Grand Slams are very special, so I am looking forward to it."


Sinner, who on Monday began his 52nd consecutive week at No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, lost in the semi-finals to Carlos Alcaraz last year in the French capital but has gone from strength to strength since.

The top-seeded Italian won five titles in the second half of last season, including the US Open and the Nitto ATP Finals. He started 2025 by triumphing at the Australian Open and then reached the final at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome. He is yet to drop a set this fortnight in the French capital.

It All Adds Up

Bublik was competing in the quarter-finals at a major for the first time, having produced a stunning performance to upset fifth seed Jack Draper in the quarter-finals. In his fifth meeting with Sinner, the 27-year-old showed signs of nerves in the first set and played passively, hitting six winners and committing eight unforced errors, with the Italian taking early control.

However, the Kazakhstani improved in the second set to cause Sinner issues. Bublik used the drop shot effectively to pull the Italian out of position and opened his shoulders to hit through the court. Sinner refused to waver, though, soaking up pressure from deep behind the baseline before he gained the crucial break of the set in the 11th game to pull further clear.

Sinner was too consistent in the third set, hitting with aggression and precise depth to take control of the baseline exchanges and improve to 4-1 in the pair's Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

Bublik, who also defeated Top 10 star Alex de Minaur in the second round, leaves Paris up 19 spots at No. 43 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

Boisson is first woman to reach Roland Garros semi-finals as a wild card

Jannik Sinner and Lois Boisson are both into the Roland Garros semi-finals.
© Getty Images

by ATP Staff

Player News — Jun 04

Jannik Sinner enjoyed a rather different — but memorable — warmup Wednesday morning at Roland Garros.

The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings practised with Hologic WTA Tour rising Frenchwoman Lois Boisson before their respective quarter-finals. Competing in her first main draw at a Grand Slam tournament, Boisson has captivated the Parisian crowd with her stunning run, later becoming the first woman in the Open Era to reach the Roland Garros semi-finals as a wild card.

“It's amazing, no? I think [it’s] exactly what France needs: something very new, very special, great mentality,” Sinner said. “I think she's someone who is quite calm on the court, at least she seems like it.”

It All Adds Up

Boisson, the WTA No. 361, missed Roland Garros last year after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury prior to the tournament. But the 22-year-old has made history on her debut this year, and Sinner revealed that the two are no strangers.

“We were actually in the same centre for a little while back in the days, and we practised sometimes together even there,” said Sinner. “So I know her. It's now already a [long] time ago. I saw her before the tournament in the gym. We talked a little bit [about] how things are, and she was very happy having a wild card here. It's a special tournament for her, being French.

“I think the level she produces is amazing, no? Very consistent. Very clay-court style, with the forehand, a lot of topspin.”


The pair's warmup session seemed to do the trick for Boisson, who later upset sixth seed Mirra Andreeva to continue her historic run in the French capital. Sinner then followed the Frenchwoman onto Court Philippe-Chatrier, where he defeated Alexander Bublik in straight sets to extend his winning streak at major tournaments to 19 matches.

“Today it was raining, so I called the desk [to see] if there was a free spot, because I don't want to risk going to go on court without warming up,” Sinner explained. “So we arrived here quite early. She [Boisson] said straight away yes, and we hit some balls.

“It was a very consistent warmup for a different game style for a woman, because the ball is quite high and quite spinny, physically very strong. She deserves to be in the position where she is right now, and we wish her all the best for the future.”

Sinner will continue his chase for a third consecutive major title against Novak Djokovic or Alexander Zverev. The 23-year-old is aiming to become the first Italian male to triumph at Roland Garros since Adriano Panatta in 1976.

Italian stands alone with ninth-longest streak in the Open Era

Jannik Sinner
© Julian Finney/Getty Images

by ATP Staff

Jannik Sinner — Jun 04

Jannik Sinner extended his winning streak at major tournaments to 19 matches on Wednesday by defeating Alexander Bublik to reach the Roland Garros semi-finals.

The No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings now stands alone with the ninth-longest streak in the Open Era, moving clear of fellow ATP No. 1 Club members Andre Agassi, Boris Becker and Mats Wilander.

Behind only Novak Djokovic (30), Roger Federer (27) and Rafael Nadal (25), Sinner boasts the fourth-longest major streak this century.

Longest Men's Grand Slam Winning Streaks in Open Era


Player Streak Start End
1 Novak Djokovic 30 2015 Wimbledon R1 2016 Wimbledon R3
2 Rod Laver 29 1969 Australian Open R2 1970 Wimbledon R4
3 Roger Federer 27 2005 Wimbledon R1 2006 Roland Garros F
T4 Jimmy Connors 25 1974 Australian Open R1 1975 Australian Open F
T4 Rafael Nadal 25 2010 Roland Garros R1 2011 Australian Open QF
T4 Pete Sampras 25 1993 Wimbledon R1 1994 Roland Garros QF
T7 Bjorn Borg 20 1978 Roland Garros R1 1978 US Open F
T7 John McEnroe 20 1981 Wimbledon R1 1982 Wimbledon F
9 Jannik Sinner 19 2024 US Open R1 active streak
T10 Andre Agassi 18 1994 US Open R1 1995 Roland Garros QF
T10 Boris Becker 18 1989 Wimbledon R1 1990 Australian Open QF
T10 Mats Wilander 18 1988 Australian Open R1 1988 Wimbledon QF
If Sinner emerges victorious in his semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic or Alexander Zverev in Paris, he will tie Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe with 20 consecutive wins in Grand Slam tournaments. The 23-year-old would surpass them both with a run to his maiden Roland Garros title.

It All Adds Up

Sinner, who is completing his 52nd consecutive week atop the PIF ATP Rankings, could stretch his lead at the top to as many as 4,330 points by winning his first Roland Garros title. He is also bidding to become the first Italian male champion at the clay-court major since Adriano Panatta in 1976.

With a title-run in Paris, the reigning US Open and Australian Open champion would become the first player to win three consecutive major trophies since Djokovic in 2021. The Serbian, who held all four Grand Slam titles at the same time from Wimbledon in 2015 to Roland Garros in 2016, is the only active player with a longer streak than Sinner.

They are second Italian duo in history to reach SFs at same Grand Slam tournament

Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti
© Peter Staples/ATP Tour

by Jerome Coombe

Player Features — Jun 05

Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti have been at the forefront of an Italian tennis boom, and it’s showing no signs of slowing down at Roland Garros.

Their simultaneous presence in the semi-finals at the clay-court major this week marks just the second time in history that two Italians have reached the last four of the same Grand Slam tournament, 65 years after Nicola Pietrangeli and Orlando Sirola made deep runs in Paris in 1960.

Yet the 2025 edition of this event feels like more than a coincidence: It appears to be a new standard.

Sinner, who is completing his 52nd consecutive week as No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is chasing his third consecutive major title. He is riding a 19-match Grand Slam winning streak — the ninth longest in the Open Era — heading into the semi-finals in Paris.


Right behind him, Musetti’s surge has added depth and flair to Italy’s rise. Known for his one-handed backhand and natural ability, Musetti was a standout junior, reaching World No. 1 in 2019.

After an impressive clay-court swing this year, during which he became the first Italian player to reach the semi-finals at all three ATP Masters 1000 events on the surface, he has risen to a career-high No. 5 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.

“We support each other very well,” Sinner said of his relationship with Musetti. "We know each other obviously much better now because of playing the Davis Cup together, and we have a good relationship off the court.

“I just wish him only the best to stay healthy, to be relaxed. He has found good stability off court, and you can see that on court. He's an amazing player, [a] Top-5 player now. [I’m] very happy for him, and he's reaching for more, so it's good.”

Fabio Fognini ended the 40-year wait for an Italian to rise inside the Top 10 in 2019, and Matteo Berrettini joined in 2022. Prior to that, only Adriano Panatta and Corrado Barazzutti had reached such heights since the inception of the PIF ATP Rankings in 1973.

Panatta had held the mark as top Italian ever by reaching No. 4. Now, not only has Sinner held World No. 1 for a year, but Musetti is threatening to crack the Top 4 himself at the same time. But first, they have unfinished business at Roland Garros.

“I guess it’s a process of growing, but only inside the court but especially off the court,” said Musetti, who could climb as high as No. 4 this week. “Last year I became a father, and I think that gave me an extra responsibility. I think now I approach things in a more professional way, not just on the court, but in my daily routine: When I practise and in my free time.”

It All Adds Up

Despite both being 23 years of age, Sinner and Musetti have experienced contrasting routes to the top of the game.

During his childhood, Sinner was a talented skier, but later shifted his attention to tennis. He chose to focus on professional tournaments and therefore did not reach the Top 100 in the junior rankings, as Musetti did. Yet Sinner has quickly emerged as one of the Tour’s most methodical and fearless competitors since immersing himself in the sport.

Now, Sinner and Musetti represent more than individual success: They symbolise a cultural shift. Italian tennis is no longer hoping for the occasional breakthrough, it is demanding excellence.

The depth in strength of Italian tennis players stretches much further than Sinner and Musetti. Jasmine Paolini, the Hologic WTA Tour No. 4, leads the nation on the women's side, while Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori have cemented themselves as a top doubles team. They have won three tour-level titles this year and reached the Australian Open final in 2024-25 as well as the championship match at last year's Roland Garros.

Relive the pair’s eight tour-level matches

Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.
© ATP Tour/Getty Images

by ATP Staff

Rivalries — Jun 05

Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic will face off Friday in a blockbuster first meeting at Roland Garros. The pair’s semi-final at the clay major, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. CEST/1 p.m. EDT, will be the latest chapter in an intriguing Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry.

From their most recent meeting in Shanghai last year to their first clash on the Monte-Carlo clay in 2021, ATPTour.com reflects on the first eight instalments of the Djokovic-Sinner rivalry.


Rolex Shanghai Masters, 2024 F, Djokovic d Sinner 7-6(4), 6-3
From a 1-4 deficit, Sinner levelled his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Djokovic at 4-4 with a commanding championship-match display at the 2024 Rolex Shanghai Masters. In the pair’s first Masters 1000 meeting since their opening clash in Monte-Carlo three years earlier, the Italian did not blink en route to clinching his seventh tour-level trophy of that season.

Sinner, who had already clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours, inflicted Djokovic’s first defeat in five Shanghai finals to reinforce the momentum swing in the pair’s rivalry. It was perhaps the Serbian himself who best summarised the elevation in Sinner’s level across a 2024 season in which the Italian ended with a 73-6 record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

“He's just very aggressive from the baseline, as soon as he's got a shorter ball, he's taking the initiative,” said the defeated Serbian. “Just very solid from forehand and backhand, doesn't make too many mistakes, and just tries to take away the time from the opponent.

“That's something that reminds me of myself throughout my career, that's what I've done for so many years consistently, playing fast-paced tennis, taking away time from the opponent, kind of suffocating the opponent, in a certain way. You want your opponent to always feel under pressure from your shots, from your speed, from your presence on the court. So he's got that. This year he's been so consistent. It's really, really impressive.”



Australian Open, 2024 SF, Sinner d Djokovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3
Sinner took the chance to notch back-to-back victories against Djokovic for the first time with aplomb at the 2024 Australian Open. In a stunning, largely one-sided encounter, Sinner outmanoeuvred the record 10-time champion Djokovic from the baseline to charge into his first Grand Slam championship match.

After an uncharacteristically flat start, Djokovic hinted at the start of a trademark Grand Slam comeback by clinching the third-set tie-break. Yet Sinner quickly banished any thoughts of a repeat of his 2022 Wimbledon loss from two sets up with a commanding fourth-set showing that secured his win. The Italian later acknowledged that his late-season encounters with Djokovic in 2023 had set the stage for snapping the Serbian’s 33-match winning streak at Melbourne Park.

"For me was a huge privilege end of last year to play against him three times in 10 days, because obviously you can practise with him, but the match is always different,” said Sinner. “So I feel like this for sure helped me in one way, but in the other way, Grand Slams are also mentally different. I just tried to play also as relaxed as possible but also having the right game plan in my mind. I think today it worked really well."

It All Adds Up

Davis Cup, 2023 SF, Sinner d. Djokovic 6-2, 2-6, 7-5
Sinner and Djokovic contested their third tour-level meeting in the space of 10 days when Italy and Serbia both advanced to the 2023 Davis Cup semi-finals. The tennis world readied for another high-stakes showdown between the No. 1 players from both countries.

With Serbia holding a 1-0 lead in the tie, Djokovic was on the brink of sending his country to the final when he brought up three match points at 4-5, 0/40 in the final set. But Sinner served his way out of trouble and — buoyed by his new lease on life in the competition — won the final three games of the match to level the tie at 1-1.

"It was a roller coaster," said Sinner, who later teamed with Lorenzo Sonego in a decisive doubles win for Italy against Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic. "I was starting off really well. Second set he played much better than me. Third set I tried to serve really well, and also on match points down I served well."

Nitto ATP Finals, 2023 F, Djokovic d. Sinner 6-3, 6-3
Five days earlier, Djokovic had completed a swift revenge job against Sinner in Turin, where he rebounded from a group-stage loss to the Italian with a near-flawless match to win his record-breaking seventh Nitto ATP Finals crown.

The Serbian served his way to an early advantage, losing just two points in his first seven service games behind pinpoint deliveries. The World No. 1 was on the front foot in almost every rally, making a concerted effort to attack and play the match on his terms.

But the tension arrived in the second set when Sinner, urged on by the Turin crowd, created two break points to level the set. Djokovic once again leaned on strong serving to escape, and he then held off one final charge from the Italian to secure a hugely satisfying title.

"To crown it with a win against a hometown hero in Jannik, who has played amazing tennis this week, is phenomenal," Djokovic said after breaking a tie with Roger Federer for most trophies at the season finale. "I think I played different tactically than I did in the group stage against Jannik, and just overall it was a phenomenal week.”



Nitto ATP Finals, 2023 RR, Sinner d. Djokovic 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2)
By late 2023, Sinner had established himself as the form player on Tour, and he entered that year’s Nitto ATP Finals having won 25 of his past 29 matches. After defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in his opening round-robin match in Turin, Sinner carried his momentum through for a maiden victory against Djokovic in the pair's fourth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.

Sinner, roared on by his adoring home crowd, led for much of the match, including at 4-2 in the final set, but a decisive tie-break was required to separate the fierce competitors. Sinner, who won nine straight points to claim the opening set, once again found his best tennis down the stretch of the third set to claim a hard-earned victory.

"I think I was really brave and intelligent in important moments, especially the third set," said Sinner, who produced some of his biggest ground strokes of the match under pressure in the final-set tie-break.

"It means a lot to me. When you win against the World No. 1, who has won 24 Grand Slams, it's obviously in the top [of my career results]... I felt like it was a really tactical match, and I managed to win, so I'm very happy."



Wimbledon, 2023 SF, Djokovic d. Sinner 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4)
Wimbledon was the setting for Sinner and Djokovic’s second and third Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings. In the 2023 semi-finals, there was little of the drama from the pair’s 2022 five-set clash as Djokovic produced a commanding semi-final display to maintain his dominance over his young rival.

Chasing a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title, Djokovic saved all six break points he faced, including two that doubled as set points for Sinner in the third set. His grass-court nous proved too much for Sinner, who was competing in his first major semi-final.

“In the semi-finals, it was always going to be a very tense, very close match,” Djokovic said after his 34th consecutive Wimbledon win, a run that later came to an end against Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling five-set championship match. “Three very close sets. I think the scoreline maybe doesn’t give the reality of what was happening on the court. It was super close."

Wimbledon, 2022 QF, Djokovic d Sinner 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
In the 2022 Wimbledon quarter-finals, Sinner provided an almighty scare to an opponent who had not lost a match at SW19 since 2017, but he was ultimately unable to capitalise on a two-set lead in what was just his ninth tour-level match on grass.

Djokovic, who had led 4-1 in the opening set before finding himself on the brink of a shock exit to the World No. 13, later attributed his comeback to taking a long, hard look in the mirror.

"He was the better player for the first two sets," reflected Djokovic on his comeback victory. "I went out and had a refresh, had a toilet break, I had a little pep talk to myself in the mirror, it's the truth. Sometimes in these circumstances when not much is happening positively for you, sometimes these things are necessary. A little break to try and regather the thoughts and reassemble."

<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/jann ... ew'>Jannik Sinner</a>/<a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/nova ... iew'>Novak Djokovic</a>
Djokovic celebrates after rallying past Sinner in the 2022 Wimbledon quarter-finals. Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images

Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, 2021 R2, Djokovic d Sinner 6-4, 6-2
Even at 19 years old, Sinner had already made a significant impact prior to the 2021 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. The Italian had picked up two ATP 250 titles, reached the 2020 Roland Garros quarter-finals and established himself as one of the most promising young players on Tour. Yet Sinner, who arrived in the Principality after reaching his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final in Miami, was given a chastening first experience of taking on then-World No. 1 Djokovic.

Djokovic eased to a 94-minute second-round victory, in which he broke Sinner’s serve five times, at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. Sinner, who himself was competing at a career-high No. 22 in the PIF ATP Rankings, was later asked what he had found most difficult when trying to lay a glove on Djokovic.

“Maybe that every ball is coming back,” answered the teenager. “I think that's difficult. He's moving good, especially in the important points. He's serving good. He's making the right decisions on important points. I think that's the most difficult part.”