World number one Jannik Sinner continued his remarkable run by defeating Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-4 in the Madrid Open semi-finals, setting up a title match against Alexander Zverev. The Italian extends his winning streak to 22 matches and remains on course for a record fifth consecutive Masters 1,000 title.
Sinner, 24, has already won the first three ATP 1,000 events of the season in Indian Wells, Miami, and Monte Carlo, and also triumphed in Paris last year. A victory on Sunday would surpass Novak Djokovic, who won four consecutive Masters events on three occasions, and Rafael Nadal, who achieved the feat in 2013.
The four-time Grand Slam champion broke twice to claim the first set 6-2 against Fils, who won the Barcelona Open two weeks ago. In the second set, Fils led 3-2 and saved two break points, but Sinner eventually broke to move 5-4 ahead and served out the match.
Sinner becomes the third man to reach the final of the first four Masters 1,000 events of the season, after Roger Federer (2006) and Nadal (2011). He is also the first player born in the 2000s to record 350 tour-level wins.
Later on Friday, world number three Zverev beat unseeded Belgian Alexander Blockx 6-2, 7-5 to reach the Madrid final for the fourth time. Zverev, a two-time champion in Madrid (2018 and 2021), raced through the first set but had to wait until the 11th game of the second set to break, then served out the match.
Sinner and Zverev will meet at a fifth consecutive Masters 1,000 event, with the German having lost their last four semi-final encounters in straight sets.