Jannik Sinner’s impressive sequence of straight-set victories at ATP Masters 1000 competitions concluded on Thursday in Monte Carlo, marking the end of a consistent period that began in October of the previous year.
Sinner had progressed through the entirety of the Paris, Indian Wells, and Miami tournaments without conceding a single set, and he commenced his Monte Carlo challenge with an additional straight-set triumph against Ugo Humbert.
However, during the third round, Tomas Machac presented a formidable challenge. While Sinner secured the initial set quite easily, Machac retaliated by narrowly winning the second via a tiebreak.
Tomas Machac expresses dissatisfaction with the outcome
Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP via Getty Images
Machac narrowly won the tiebreak in the second set 7-3 but was unable to maintain that impetus into the decider, ultimately falling 6-1, 6-7, 6-3.
Following the match, Machac commented on Instagram: “From my perspective, securing a single set against Jannik is considered a strong showing… A minor point, and that was my objective; however, you still require two sets to claim victory.
“I am disappointed with the outcome yet content with my performance level. I feel energized for the upcoming clay court season. In tennis and daily life, agility is paramount.”
Sinner’s continuous sequence of sets won at ATP Masters 1000 tournaments concluded at 37, significantly surpassing the previous record of 24 established by Novak Djokovic.
Tomas Machac’s performance during the 2026 season thus far
Machac commenced his 2026 season with a robust display in Australia, securing his second ATP championship during that period.
He clinched the Adelaide International championship, overcoming competitors such as Tommy Paul and Ugo Humbert en route to winning the ATP 250 trophy.
Following his departure in the third round of the Australian Open, Machac struggled to regain consistent form, experiencing early eliminations in tournaments held in Montpellier, Doha, Miami, and Marrakech.
At Monte-Carlo, he achieved wins against Daniel Altmaier and the 16th-seeded Francisco Cerundolo prior to his defeat by Sinner in the third round.
