Jannik Sinner Just Posted a 6-2, 6-0 Beatdown and Nobody in Tennis Is Catching Him

Jannik Sinner is playing a different sport than everyone else right now. The top seed absolutely dismantled Alexei Popyrin on Monday in Rome, posting a clean 6-2, 6-0 victory to punch his ticket to the round of 16 at the Italian Open. In 67 minutes. That's not a match, that's target practice.

Here's what makes this run absolutely unhinged: Sinner just became only the second man ever to win his first 25 ATP Masters 1000 matches of a season. The only other guy to do it? Novak Djokovic. Sinner has won 30 overall matches this season, which ties him for second all-time with Djokovic's 2014-15 pace. Djokovic still holds the record with 31 straight wins from 2011, but honestly, the way Sinner is playing right now, that record might not be safe for long.

The Numbers Don't Lie

Sinner posted a 20-7 edge in winners and committed just 12 errors, with only one coming off his backhand. Meanwhile, Popyrin looked lost out there. The Australian had a weak 48% accuracy on first serves, fired three double faults, and had zero aces against Sinner's five. When your biggest weapon stops working, you're cooked.

Sinner knew exactly what was happening. "It was a very good performance," he said after. "He is a big server and his percentage was not very high, which helped me a little bit. But I have been returning the second serves very well and I am happy to be in the next round."

Next Up: An Underdog Story

Sinner's next opponent is Andrea Pellegrino, a 155th-ranked qualifier who just pulled off one of the tournament's best upsets. Pellegrino beat 20th-seeded Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (8), 6-1 and advanced through five matches to reach the round of 16 in his first-ever main draw Masters 1000 event.

Pellegrino has faced Sinner once before, way back in 2019 in an ITF event when the then-17-year-old Sinner crushed him 6-1, 6-1. But that was seven years ago. This time, Pellegrino is the experienced qualifier riding a wave of confidence. "It will be a really good experience for me," Pellegrino said. "Maybe we will play on Center Court, where I have never played."

When Sinner and Pellegrino meet next, one of them is getting exposed. My money's on the top seed.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.