Jannik Sinner made the bet of an unaccustomed morning start, with the world No 1 extending his win streak to 20 matches as he defeated Cam Norrie 6-2, 7-5 on Tuesday at the Madrid Masters.

The top seed who will be playing only his second quarter-final in the high-altitude Spanish capital, was none too pleased at being handed the 11 a.m. opening match on the showcase court.

But Sinner did not waste time worrying as he came back to victory after briefly losing his lead of a set and a break against British No. 1 Norrie.

The Italian has now won his last 25 matches at the Masters 1000 level and is still working to become the first to ever win five straight titles in the elite series.

“Playing so early was quite unusual for me,” he said. “I don’t know the last time I played at 11.

“But the time doesn’t really matter, I try to do my best.”

Sinner did launch a complaint about scheduling in late-night Spain.

“Starting two (evening) matches from 8 p.m. is very late. Afterwards we need to eat, get treatment… but we try to adapt our bodies.”

Sinner and Norrie have been recent practice partners but had never met in a match.

“I knew what to expect,” the seed said. “I was also able to serve well in the important moments.

“I’m happy to be in the quarter-finals again and glad to be through in two sets.”

Aryna Sabalenka laid on a fightback from a set and a break down on Monday to preserve her quest for a fourth title at the Madrid Masters with a come-from behind 6-7 (1), 6-3, 6-2 defeat of Naomi Osaka.

The fourth-round win sent the world No. 1 and defending champion into the quarter-finals against Hailey Baptiste, who defeated  Swiss Belinda Bencic 6-1, 6-7 (14), 6-3.

The American winner was stunned by her fighting success:

“The tiebreak was insane,” Baptiste said. “It was quite obvious that nerves got a bit in the way when I had some moments to close out the match, but that’s obviously a part of the game.

“I wasn’t able to get out of that tiebreak, but I was able to turn it around in the third set, so I can be happy about that.

“(It would have been) super easy to just leave the match mentally after something like that. Having six chances – painful, very, very painful to not get out of that.”Sabalenka earned a less dramatic but equally satisfying victory into the last eight in the capital.

“Oh my God, that was incredible level,” the winner said . “She played incredible tennis.= “I feel like I just got lucky in a couple shots in the third set, that’s why it went that fast.”

The top seed finished in the deciding set as she lost just three points on serve; she advanced with a sixth ace and 31st winner.

“I just dropped my level at the end of the first set and gave her that tiebreak quite easily,” Sabalenka said. “But overall I’m happy with my performance. 

“When someone put me under pressure, I was able to pull out really incredible shots and incredible tennis. I could struggle a little bit, and find a solution in the match. So, overall happy.”

Carlos Alcaraz could miss the entire grass season if a worst-case scenario on his wrist injury comes into play.

The Spaniard has already withdrawn from  title defences on clay at Rome and Roland Garros after injuring the wrist this month in Barcelona.

But latest reports from Spain indicate that the world No. 2 could possibly not be back until the start of the US Open run-up next August, possibly at the Cincinnati Masters.

Rome’s La Gazzetta dello Sport broke the bad news on the fitness state of Alcaraz, winner of the last two French Open editions. The paper reported there was no chance for the player to compete either at Queen’s club, London, or Wimbledon, which begins in late June.

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz reached Wimbledon final 2025 – by Roger Parker ISF Ltd