Jannik Sinner will be looking to extend an already remarkable record at this year's Italian Open.
Sinner made history in Madrid by becoming the first man to win five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles, doing so without missing a single event on the calendar.
The Italian hasn't lost a match at that level since Paris 2025 and will now look to make it six in a row on home soil.
His last defeat on the ATP Tour came back in February when Jakub Mensik beat him in the quarterfinals of the Qatar Open.
In Rome, ahead of Sinner's opener, Daniil Medvedev didn't hold back his praise for how well the world number one has been playing this season.
Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images
Asked about Sinner during an interview with Bolshe, Medvedev replied: "He plays tennis very well. It was always surprising when there were the big three.
"It's surprising now with Jannik and Carlos, but probably more so with Jannik. It's the stability.
"Because anyone can have a bad day. You might, I don't know, have a bad breakfast, your stomach hurts, or you didn't sleep well, or you have a headache.
"It's clear that this is not what causes defeat, but the level may drop a little. It doesn't fall much for him, and even if it falls, it's enough to win matches.
"This is, of course, a bit of a fantasy, but then again, everyone knows that he can play very well. No one is surprised when he wins. Therefore, all that remains is to congratulate him, and if you play with him, try to win."
Medvedev has never been a natural on clay, but he does have history in Rome. He went out in the first round in each of his first three appearances, losing early in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
After skipping the event in 2022, he came back strong in 2023 and had his best run ever on clay. He dropped just one set all tournament before beating Holger Rune to claim the title. Since then, Medvedev has tallied two consecutive fourth-round exits in Rome.
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