Now into the Madrid Masters semifinals, Sinner is just two wins from becoming the first man in the history of the format (1990 onward) to win the first four Masters tournaments of the season.

“I never take things for granted. I try to understand what’s working very well in certain conditions,” said Sinner, whose form bodes well for Roland Garros where he aims to complete the career Grand Slam.

“This is my motivation, trying to put myself in the best possible position to win as many matches as possible, and that’s it.”

WTA’s new world order

Sabalenka continues to assert herself as the game’s dominant No.1 – but she has a new No.2 snapping at her heels in Elena Rybakina.

For much of the past three years Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek occupied the top two spots, but a resurgent Rybakina has displaced Swiatek and set a career-high ranking in the process.

Sabalenka and Rybakina have also established the game’s best rivalry. 

Since losing their thrilling AO 2026 final, Sabalenka beat Rybakina at both Indian Wells and Miami and emulated Sinner by completing the ‘Sunshine Double’.

She built a 15-match winning streak – ended in the Madrid quarters by an inspired Hailey Baptiste – and is currently enjoying her 80th consecutive week at No.1.

Rybakina, meanwhile, leads the 2026 points race to the year-end WTA Finals after her recent claycourt title in Stuttgart.

Both she and Sabalenka are among the favourites to hoist their first Roland Garros trophy.

Young talents rising

Since the Australian Open, many of the sport’s brightest rising stars have thrived.

This has been especially so on clay, where teenagers Rafael Jodar and Mirra Andreeva, and 21-year-old Arthur Fils, are building momentum ahead of Roland Garros.

MORE: Rafael Jodar explodes onto global stage

Fils missed much of 2025 with a back stress fracture, but since returning has blasted his forehand bigger than anybody and owns an nine-match winning streak after triumphing in Barcelona and progressing to the Madrid Masters semifinals.

Also going deep in Madrid was Jodar, the explosive 19-year-old Spaniard who triumphed in Marrakech – his first ATP title – then reached the semis in Barcelona, where he pushed Fils to three.

Meanwhile, 19-year-old Andreeva is 12-1 on clay this year after prevailing in Linz, reaching the Stuttgart semis – where she fell to Rybakina – and advancing to the Madrid final, where she is on the cusp of her third WTA 1000 title.

Alcaraz and Swiatek looking to rebound

Since triumphing at AO 2026 and completing his own career Slam, things have taken a tough turn for Carlos Alcaraz.

The Spanish star opened the season with a flawless 16-0 record, but this was blemished by Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells semifinals, then an early loss in Miami.

Alcaraz has since announced he will miss Rome and Roland Garros – both events at which he’s the defending champion – due to a wrist injury, which flared in Barcelona and has sidelined him since.