Jannik Sinner defeats Ofner at the Rome Open: Equals Federer's record, closing in on a historic title.
World number one Jannik Sinner began his Rome Open campaign with a convincing 6-3, 6-4 victory over Sebastian Ofner, extending his winning streak at the Masters 1000 level to 29 matches.
Jannik Sinner made a strong comeback at the Rome Open with a dominant victory after 1 hour and 31 minutes of play. The Italian not only secured his place in the third round but also officially equaled the record of 29 consecutive wins at Masters 1000 tournaments held by legend Roger Federer – the third longest winning streak in the history of the series.
Dominance from the baseline
The match witnessed a consistently high-level performance from the world number one. In the first set, Sinner made only five unforced errors, constantly pressuring Sebastian Ofner with powerful shots deep into the baseline. His precise ball control completely overwhelmed his Austrian opponent.
In the second set, an early turning point occurred when Sinner executed a delicate drop shot in his opponent's first service game. This crucial break-point allowed him to establish a lead and maintain absolute control until the end of the match. Sinner's first serve winning percentage reached an impressive 82%, demonstrating his consistency in decisive service situations.
Match statistics
| Index | Jannik Sinner | Sebastian Ofner |
|---|---|---|
| Ace | 3 | 6 |
| Double error | 1 | 3 |
| First serve percentage | 61% (33/54) | 57% (38/67) |
| First serve to win a point. | 82% (27/33) | 68% (26/38) |
| Second serve for a point. | 71% (15/21) | 52% (15/29) |
| Take advantage of break points. | 29% (2/7) | 0% (0/0) |
| Total points | 68 | 53 |
Aspiration to rewrite history in our homeland.
Speaking after the match, Sinner expressed his emotion: “It feels amazing to be back. In Rome, every year when you come back, you look back on the journey you’ve taken. I’m really happy to be playing in front of the home crowd.”
The 24-year-old is currently aiming to become the first Italian to win the Rome Open since Adriano Panatta's title in 1976. More importantly, a victory there would complete his "Career Golden Masters" collection – winning all nine Masters 1000 tournaments in the ATP system.
Sinner's next challenge in the third round will be the winner of the match between Jakub Mensik and Alexei Popyrin. Notably, Mensik was the last player to defeat Sinner at the ATP 500 tournament in Doha in February, promising a highly anticipated clash should the two meet again.
