Sinner obliterates Zverev to win Madrid Open and clinch record fifth-straight Masters crown

[p]The Italian claimed a record fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title and stretched his winning streak to 23 matches with a superb display in the Spanish capital.[/p][p]Only tennis greats [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/federer-roger/GrsQDFC0/"]Roger Federer[/a], [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nadal-rafael/xUwlUnRK/"]Rafa Nadal[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a] had managed to win four titles at this level in a row.[/p][p]"[b]I'll never be able to compare myself to Rafa, Novak and Roger, what they've achieved is incredible -- over 10 or 15 years[/b]," Sinner told Movistar.[/p][p]"[b]I'm trying to make my own mark, but I'm doing it for myself, I don't play for the records, I'm just putting myself in a position to succeed[/b]."[/p][embed guid="1a059f52-eef5-4150-baaa-a0c75351062f" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2050972394731237602" social-type="twitter" /][p]Sinner said he felt he was playing extremely well, in contrast to his opponent, who struggled to produce his best.[/p][p]"[b]Today I played very, very solid tennis. Sascha didn't play very well today, but if I don't get a break or two right away and stay out in front, his legs get going and he gains a bit of confidence, especially here on this court[/b]," he continued.[/p][p]"[b]He's been playing late all tournament, so his schedule is also a bit off, but I can be happy with what I'm doing[/b]."[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Sinner[/a] has been in impeccable form and broke world number three [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Zverev[/a]'s first service game before consolidating for a 3-0 lead.[/p][embed guid="baf08dc4-63ca-47d6-be96-b0ea5ba9a56c" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2050973208711426350" social-type="twitter" /][p]The Italian, who also won the eight prior meetings against Zverev, secured another break and eased into a 5-0 advantage on his serve.[/p][p]In the sixth game, Zverev produced his first hold, but there was nothing the 29-year-old could do about Sinner's powerful serving.[/p][p]The four-time Grand Slam winner has been working on increasing his variety and a drop shot left Zverev scrambling before Sinner clinched the first set with an ace.[/p][p]World number two [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Carlos Alcaraz[/a]'s wrist injury has left Sinner with no realistic rival in the weeks ahead, leading to Roland Garros.[/p][embed guid="02fed01d-b40c-46e7-8af0-5f12dcf80881" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2050977082625208830" social-type="twitter" /][p]Sinner broke in the third game of the second set to tighten his grip on the title.[/p][p]Zverev, a two-time Madrid winner who thrives at altitude, showed more fight than in the first stanza but could not stop his opponent.[/p][p]Sinner hammered down a forehand winner for another break to take a 5-2 lead and serve for the championship.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/sinner-j-6HdC3z4H/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=0zlEU12M"]The Italian sealed his triumph[/a] serving to love to wrap up a sublime fortnight in Madrid, where nobody has come close to stopping him.[/p][embed guid="f986c317-55e3-40f5-8669-ca0bc5a7d46e" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2050975517852021048" social-type="twitter" /]