Jannik Sinner eyes milestone held by Novak Djokovic at Monte-Carlo Masters

After advancing to the quarterfinals at the Monte-Carlo Masters, Jannik Sinner is on the verge of matching a rare historic feat previously achieved only by Novak Djokovic.

April 09, 2026 07:11PM EDT

**© Getty Images**Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.

Jannik Sinner battled through a tough three-set test on Thursday, defeating Tomas Machac 6-1, 6-7(3), 6-3 to secure his place in the Monte-Carlo Masters quarterfinals. The Italian remains on track for his first career title in Monaco, a victory that would see him join Novak Djokovic in an exclusive statistical club.

Should Sinner go on to win the tournament, he would become just the second player in ATP history to sweep the Miami Open and Monte-Carlo Masters back-to-back. Djokovic is currently the only man to accomplish this, having pulled off the “Sunshine-to-Clay” transition in 2015.

To reach that milestone, Sinner must first move past Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime in the quarterfinals. A win there would set up a semifinal clash against either rising star Joao Fonseca or third seed Alexander Zverev, with a potential showdown against Carlos Alcaraz looming in the final.

Sinner’s record-breaking set streak snapped

While Sinner secured the win, he saw a historic personal streak come to an end against Machac. The World No. 2 lost his first set in an ATP Masters 1000 event since last October, ending a run of 37 consecutive sets won at the Masters level.

Sinner’s dominance began at the 2025 Paris Masters and continued through a historic start to 2026. Last month, he became the first player to complete the “Sunshine Double”—winning Indian Wells and Miami back-to-back—without dropping a single set. Machac’s second-set tiebreak win on Thursday marked the first time Sinner had been pushed to a third set in a Masters tournament in over six months.

Carlos Alcaraz explains why he’s pulling for a Monte Carlo showdown with Jannik Sinner

The battle for World No.1

The stakes in Monte-Carlo extend beyond the trophy, as the ATP No. 1 ranking is once again within Sinner’s reach. The Italian controls his own destiny; a title win this weekend would guarantee his return to the top of the rankings, regardless of other results.

However, Sinner could also reclaim the throne even without the title. If Carlos Alcaraz fails to reach the final, Sinner simply needs a runner-up finish to displace the Spaniard and return to World No. 1 for the first time since November 2025.

Gianni Taina

Gianni Taina is a bilingual journalist, fluent in English and Spanish, with a specialization in soccer, NBA, and tennis. He began his professional career in 2020 with Mundo Deportivo US, where he first established himself as a writer. Throughout his career, Gianni has covered major sports events such as the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the NBA Finals, and Grand Slam tournaments like the French Open. His ability to report on real-time events and perform well under pressure has made him a valuable member of a top-tier team of journalists. In 2024, he joined Bolavip US, bringing his expertise in soccer, NBA, and tennis to deliver original content while providing live coverage of important events.