Photo Source: TC
Jannik Sinner faced – and brilliantly passed – the most difficult test of his comeback to date on Tuesday at the Foro Italico.
The World No.1 edged dangerous Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(2), 6-3 to stretch his career-best winning streak to 24 (10-0) in 2025, and reach the Rome quarterfinals for the second time.
Sinner’s is the longest ATP winning streak since Andy Murray reeled off 28 at the end of 2016 and start of 2016.
Sinner, who will face either Casper Ruud or Jaume Munar next, joins Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals, which marks the first time since 1984 two Italian men reach Internazionali BNL d’Italia quarter-finals. Musetti waited out the rain and eventually defeated former champion Daniil Medvedev, 7-5 6-4.
“He’s a very tough competitor,” Sinner said. “It’s obviously a great challenge for me, especially in this moment. I’m very happy, today I felt that I raised my level and gamewise I felt a little bit better.” An Italian man has not won the title at the Foro Italico since Adrian Panatta raised the trophy in 1976.
Argentina’s Cerundolo, who defeated Sinner in their last meeting, at Rome in 2023, entered the match leading the ATP Tour in clay-court wins in 2025 with 18, and he demonstrated his prowess in a back-and-forth opening set, recovering from a break down to force a tiebreak.
But it was Sinner who calmly navigated the high pressure moments in the breaker and he pulled away to take the opening set from the World No. 18.
The unforced errors off of Cerundolo’s lethal forehand wing started to pile up, and that gave Sinner a chance to turn up the heat on his rival. He did just that, breaking for 3-1 in the second set when Cerundolo launched his 26th forehand unforced error wide of the tramline.
The Italian quickly consolidated for 4-1, as Cerundolo’s own frustration with his inability to impose himself on his opponent continued to grow.
Sinner built a double-break lead in the next game, before giving a break back as Cerundolo mounted a late charge.
The Argentinian saved a trio of match points, whipping a forehand winner at 110 MPH at one point, and even earned a break point to get back on serve in the set with Sinner serving for the match a second time at 5-3. But he could not stave off his elimination, as Sinner converted his fourth match point to close affairs at two hours and 16 minutes. The three-time major champion has made a solid return from his three-month doping suspension and already looks like he’s found mid-season form. Against a player who had reeled off 26 winners this season, it was Sinner who looked like the in-form player.
“I need this,” Sinner said. “I’m happy to be back, I was three months out. Every situation for me I feel very fortunate here.”