Sinner’s consistency puts him on path to records at AO 2026

Jannik Sinner is again knocking on history’s door at the Australian Open.

The Italian’s fourth-round victory over compatriot Luciano Darderi on Monday was his 18th in a row at Melbourne Park, a streak which places him among the greats.

Only four other men have earned better AO main-draw singles streaks in the Open era: Novak Djokovic (33), Andre Agassi (26), Ivan Lendl (20) and Roger Federer (19).

The world No.2 would equal Federer’s best run of 19 consecutive AO wins should he overcome American powerhouse Ben Shelton on Wednesday night. 
 

It hasn’t all been easy for Sinner, however.

He dropped the first set against Eliot Spizzirri in the third round and “struggled physically” with cramps amid the heat, before a roof closure at Rod Laver Arena brought reprieve.

The 24-year-old got the job done and now boasts a staggering win record of 26 out of 30 singles matches at the Australian Open, just shy of 87 per cent.

The only other men in the Open era to hold a better AO streak from their first 30 matches?

Andre Agassi, Mats Wilander and Stefan Edberg, all with 27.

Most men’s singles AO wins from first 30 matches, Open era:

Further underscoring his recent dominance, the two-time Australian Open champion has now reached nine consecutive major quarterfinals stretching back to January 2024.

This makes him the third youngest to do so since 1968, behind Djokovic and Pete Sampras.

And if Sinner is still at Melbourne Park come Sunday night, it would be his sixth consecutive Grand Slam final, equalling Djokovic’s best streak. The only other man in the Open era to have bettered this is Federer, who made 10 major finals in a row between 2005 and 2008.

Should he win his third title in Melbourne, Sinner would join Djokovic as the only men to have won three straight AO singles titles in the Open era.

It’s perhaps fitting that, if they both win their quarterfinals, it’s the Serb that Sinner would battle to keep these records in play.