Jannik Sinner had an eventful day at the ATP Masters in Madrid: First, the world number one hit a few balls alongside Rafael Nadal, Jude Bellingham and Co. in the Bernabéu football temple, then – back at the tennis facility in the Spanish capital – he had surprising problems with his opening hurdle. Sinner even lost a set against the Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi at 6:7 (6:8), 6:1, 6:4.
“It was a tough match, I had a few chances at the beginning but couldn’t take advantage of them. But that’s tennis,” said the four-time Grand Slam winner. “Of course we have to improve, but I’m also happy – if you don’t play your best tennis and still win, that’s still a good result.” His opponent Bonzi, number 104 in the world rankings, had previously impressed, especially in the tiebreak of the first set.
Sinner is chasing his fifth Masters title in a row in Madrid. He had previously triumphed in Paris (2025), Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo. In the third round there is now a duel with the Danish outsider Elmer Möller.
His great rival Carlos Alcaraz is not at the start in Madrid. The Spaniard will miss the Masters as well as the second Grand Slam of the year, the French Open in Paris, as he announced on social networks on Friday. Sinner is therefore likely to move further ahead in the world rankings in the coming weeks.
Before his opening match, Sinner entered the Bernabéu alongside tennis legend Nadal, fourth-placed world number Iga Swiatek and Real Madrid stars Thibault Courtois and Bellingham and posed on the tennis training court built there specifically for the Masters.
