Jannik Sinner has been on a tremendous run of form on the ATP Tour in recent months.
The Italian had a difficult start to his 2026 campaign, which started with a failed title defence at the Australian Open.
Sinner lost to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals at Melbourne Park, with the Serb denying him a historic three-peat.
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He then suffered a quarterfinal exit at the Qatar Open, but ever since, nobody has managed to beat the now world number one, who has triumphed in Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo consecutively.
Sinner‘s return to form was expected by many, but tennis legend Boris Becker still finds his level ‘incredible’.
Boris Becker says Jannik Sinner was ‘really upset’ after Melbourne
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Becker said: “I think Jannik was really upset about losing to Djokovic in the fifth set in Melbourne; he wasn’t expecting it.
“The loss to Mensik in Doha was definitely easier to digest. He went to Indian Wells, where he’d never won, with a fist in his pocket, desperate to prove that what happened in Melbourne was an exception.
“I’d say the current Sinner is the best we’ve seen so far. Winning the ‘Sunshine Double’ is something extraordinary.
How long will Jannik Sinner stay as world number one?
Sinner will begin his third reign after winning the Monte Carlo Masters…
“For me, in terms of difficulty, it’s on par with winning a Grand Slam: West Coast, East Coast, time change, four weeks of commitment.
“And then going to Monte Carlo and winning the tournament while losing just one set… he’s done something incredible, a feat whose sporting, physical, and mental value seems inestimable to me.”
Jannik Sinner’s first opponent at the 2026 Madrid Open
Now, Sinner will be looking to make history by winning a fifth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title in Madrid.
With Carlos Alcaraz and Djokovic having both withdrawn from the tournament, Sinner has a great chance to go all the way.
In his first match at the Madrid Open, Sinner will take on qualifier Benjamin Bonzi, whom he has played three times before on the ATP Tour.
Sinner has triumphed in all three of his meetings with Bonzi, beating the Frenchman at Roland Garros in 2020, Indian Wells in 2022 and Rotterdam in 2023.
The winner of their Madrid clash with face either qualifier Elmer Moller or Gabriel Diallo in the third round.
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