Jannik Sinner, not just victory in Indian Wells: set new record

A victory that rewrites history once again.

Jannik Sinner in Indian Wells did not è just hit the semifinals, on Thursday that saw him beat Czech Jiri Lehecka in two sets. In fact, his new victory makes him still undefeated in 2024, with numbers that put him ahead of such tennis legends as Djokovic, Borg, Federer, and McEnroe. And a new, additional record è getting closer.

Indeed, the Indian Wells success over Lehecka allowed Sinner to become the youngest player in the Open era to start a season with 16 consecutive wins at the ATP level. The Italian did so at the age of 22 years and 211 days, once again beating the "usual" Novak Djokovic. The formidable Serb was in fact the holder of this important record, achieved in 2011 at 23 years and 299 days. He is followed by Bjorn Borg (23 years and 302 days in 1980), Roger Federer (24 years and 207 days in 2006) and John McEnroe (25 years and 17 days in 1984).

Should però his Indian Wells adventure continue, Sinner could put yet another record in his sights. By winning 17 matches to start the season without losing any, in fact, he would join Pete Sampras (1997) and Roger Federer (2018) as records for the best starts to a season since 1990. It would not, however, be an absolute record: ahead would remain Nadal, who in 2022 put up 20 wins in a row, and the incredible Djokovic of 2011, who reached 41. A goal that appears difficult to match, but never say never.