Sinner dismantles Humbert to extend record Masters 1000 run on clay debut
Jannik Sinner opened his clay season without a blemish, dropping two points on serve and hitting 19 winners to dismantle Ugo Humbert in just over an hour (6-3, 6-0).
Jannik Sinner, Monte-Carlo 2026 | © Chryslène Caillaud, PsNewz
Jannik Sinner, the No. 2 seed, opened his clay season in commanding fashion, defeating Frenchman Ugo Humbert 6-3, 6-0 to advance to the last 16 of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Tuesday.
The Italian, ranked No. 2 in the world, dropped just two points on his first serve across the match and struck 19 winners. Humbert, ranked No. 34, held his own through the opening exchanges, staying with Sinner to 2-2 in the first set before losing five of his final six service games – the last of them to love.
The win was Sinner’s 13th consecutive Masters 1000 victory to open a season, making him the first player to achieve that mark since Roger Federer in 2017, according to ATP statistics. It extended a broader unbeaten streak at Masters 1000 level that stretches back to last November.
Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are in contention for the world No. 1 ranking, with Sinner needing to reach at least the semifinals and finish with a better result than the Spaniard to reclaim the top spot.
Backed by the Sunshine Double
The Italian arrives at Monte-Carlo having completed the Sunshine Double – titles at Indian Wells and Miami – without dropping a set across either tournament. He became the first player to do so, and only the eighth man overall, and first since Federer in 2017, to win both events in the same season. His overall record for 2026 stands at 20-2.
Since his Monte-Carlo debut in 2021, Sinner holds a 10-4 win-loss record at the tournament, reaching the semifinals in both 2023 and 2024. He has yet to win the title. On clay overall, he carries a 65-24 win-loss record – a 73 per cent winning rate.
Humbert came in with some momentum. He had beaten 17-year-old compatriot Moise Kouame 6-3, 7-5 in the first round on Monday. On Tuesday, he was competitive early, winning 40% of points behind his first serve.
“It was a good performance,” Sinner said after the match. “You have to change your game and adapt to the conditions. I didn’t have much time to adapt to the court, so I’m happy to have one more match.”
Sinner will face the winner of the match between Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, the No. 16 seed, and Czech Tomas Machac in the round of 16.
