Fans inside Stadium 1 on Championship Weekend didn't know it at the time, but they had a courtside seat to the start of a historic run.

When Jannik Sinner held out Daniil Medvedev in two tie-breaks to claim his first title in Tennis Paradise, the Italian began a remarkable streak that would see him become the first player since the inception of the series in 1990 to sweep the first five ATP Masters 1000s trophies in a season.

By defeating Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 in Sunday’s final in Rome, Sinner also joined Novak Djokovic as the only players to win all nine Masters 1000s, a feat known as the Career Golden Masters.

For good measure, the Italian became the first homegrown champion at the Foro Italico in Rome since Adriano Panatta 50 years ago. 

“There's no better place to complete this set,” said Sinner, who is now 36-2 on the season. “In 2019, I made my debut here on this court. I always felt very positive, but in a different way, a lot of attention, a lot of emotions going through. It means a lot.

"It has been an incredible past two and a half months.” 

For context, 24-year-old Sinner took less than three years to accomplish the Career Golden Masters, having captured his first Masters 1000 in Toronto in 2023. Djokovic’s journey spanned more than 11 years, from Miami 2007 to Cincinnati in 2018, when he was 31. 

It should be noted that the Serbian has won all nine Masters 1000s at least twice. And the 40-time Masters 1000 champion also retains the record for winning six Masters 1000 titles in the one season.

After completing the Sunshine Double in Miami - as did another first-time Tennis Paradise champion Aryna Sabalenka - Sinner steeled himself for clay, a surface on which he had won just one title, at the 250 level in Umag in 2022.

Sinner beat Carlos Alcaraz in the Monte-Carlo final - in a match which also saw the Italian dethrone his great rival as World No. 1 - and then backed up to win his first title in Madrid.

Dating back to his victory at last year’s Rolex Paris Masters, Sinner has won six consecutive Masters 1000 titles and 34 consecutive matches at that level - both series records. During those 34 victories the Italian dropped just three sets and at one point had won 37 consecutive sets. 

Throughout his career he has won 10 Masters 1000s.

In his runner-up speech Sunday, a gracious Ruud was full of praise for Sinner.  "It's hard to describe what you're doing,” the Norwegian said. “It is an honour to watch you play and to be able to share the court with you today in a beautiful arena at your home Masters 1000.”

Despite all the early-season success, Sinner’s work is far from done. He will shortly head to Paris, where he will look to complete the career Grand Slam, just one major after Alcaraz achieved the feat at this year’s Australian Open. Last year, Sinner held three championship points against Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final in one of the greatest matches of the Open Era. 

With Alcaraz sidelined with a wrist injury, Sinner will start an overwhelming favourite to take the title and add what would be the most important piece of history to his remarkable 2026 season.

Note: Hero image courtesy ATP