Jannik Sinner Drops Set To Beat Benjamin Bonzi In Madrid Open First Round

 

Jannik Sinner started his fourth Master's 1,000 event campaign of the season with a hard-fought three-set showdown with his compatriot, Benjamin Bonzi, dropping a set in his opening round. 

The Italian world no. 1 dug deeper after losing the opening set to Bonzi, whom he breezed past in the remaining two sets to win 6-7(6), 6-1, 6-2, converting 3-of-13 breakpoint advantages. 

Bonzi is the second player to claim a set against Jannik since Tomas Machac in the Monte Carlo Masters. Jannik has remained unbeaten through three consecutive Masters 1,000 events, extending his match-winning streak to 18. He currently holds the longest set-winning streak with a record 37 consecutive set wins, upsetting the previous record holder, Novak Djokovic. 

After winning the previous event in Monte Carlo, Jannik overtook his Spaniard rival, Carlos Alcaraz, in the ATP World Rankings to become the number one. Also, the trophy in Monte Carlo was his fourth consecutive Masters 1,000 event.

However, Jannik is edging closer to the record set by Novak Djokovic in 2015 when he won five consecutive Masters 1,000 events in a single season. Presently, the Italian has won three in a row and is contending for the fourth in Madrid.