Jannik Sinner lost his first set since last October at the Masters 1000 level, with the Italian struggling through anyway for a 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-3 defeat of Tomas Machac on Thursday in Monte Carlo.

Coming in to face Czech Machac, the Italian world No. 2 had won his last 36 sets at the elite Masters level – 18 victories on the trot resulting in titles at Paris, Indian Wells and Miami.

Sinner suffered a physical slump in the second set, which he lost in a tiebreaker after coming back from a double break down.

The 24-year-old stayed hazy on details but said he was struggling for energy in the second set. He brought out the doctor in the third set, but only apparently for a chat before finishing off another victory

“It can’t be the same every day,” the winner said.”I was struggling and was a bit tired. 

“I hope to recover form Friday (for a quarter-final against Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime). I try to do my best in every match.

“Today I was hapy to get through somehow.”

Sinner ended with 18 winners and 26 unforced errors in his two-hour win.

“I hope to play better tennis tomorrow, but today was still very positive.”

Sinner explained vaguely: “I felt great before the match but I struggled trying to find the right energy.

“It can happen – I had to push myself through. My main priority now is to recover.”

Sinner extended his current win streak to 14 matches, last losing in Doha in mid-February; he has reached the quarter-finals in the principality for the fourth time in five appearances.

Jannik Sinner is keeping his focus on his tennis as the world No. 2 attempts to win his first title of the season when the Indian Wells Masters kicks off.

The Italian did not play in Dubai, where champion Daniil Medvedev and around 40 others among tennis players, coaches and ATP staff have been stranded since  Saturday due to the US attack on Iran.

“There are certain things we cannot control really, and this is definitely one of them,” he said pre-event.  “I believe that ATP and everyone is trying to do the best possible choices, to feel as safe as possible.

“That’s the only thing I can say really. I obviously hope that everyone is safe and they can come here to play or also to go home. 

“You realise that there are much more important things in life than playing  tennis.”

As for his form, Sinner is moderately satisfied.

“I’m very happy with how I’m feeling on the court, and obviously will try to go as far as possible in the tournament. At the same time, we also try to improve a couple of things. 

“I’m trying to be slightly more aggressive at times on the baseline, and then we see how it goes.

“The season is  good. semis in Australia and in Doha what happened, but I’m very happy how and what mental moment I am in.”

Main photo:- Jannik Sinner losing to Novak Djokovic in Melbourne last month – by ISF Ltd

Daniil Medvedev picked up where he left off a week ago with a second straight defeat of China’s Shang Juncheng to set up a showdown at the ATP Dubai event with Stan Wawrinka.

Medvedev, who turned 30 this month, defeated a limping opponent 6-1, 6-3 seven days after sending Shang out in Doha in straight sets.

The third seed booked a Wednesday appointment with three-time Grand Slam winner Wawrinka, a fellow former champion at the Aviation club who is playing his final season at age 40.

Medvedev won the title in Brisbane last month prior to the Australian Open, where the former No. 1 now ranked 11th reached the fourth round.

He won the Dubai title in 2023 while Wawrinka was champion a decade ago.

Medvedv had the edge over the 262nd-ranked Shang, who suffered with a foot injury in 2025.

That problem came back to haunt him in the closing stages of the 66-minute loss to Medvedev, with the Chinese outsider noticeably limping on his dodgy right foot.

“I needed to play the same tactics and level that I had last week” the winner said. “We both knew what we had to do – it just depends on who is playing better.”

Medvedev, who lost a quarter-final here a year ago after holding four match points, added:

“The first set was great, I was serving wel in the big moments and breaking him.

“The second was 50-50 and I could tell he was injured a bit. I’m happy I was able to win. I noticed he was suffering a bit in the long rallies (due to heat).”

Medvedev beat Wawrinka a year ago in Rotterdam, their last meeting; the pair of veterans have also faced off at three of the four Grand Slams dating to Wimbledon, 2017.