World No 1 Jannik Sinner has broken Novak Djokovic's record by winning his 32nd straight match at ATP Masters 1000 level, beating Andrey Rublev to advance to the Italian Open semi-finals.
Sinner landed shots on the lines repeatedly in a 6-2 6-4 triumph, putting him in prime position to become the first Italian man to win his home tournament since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
He lost last year's final in Rome to Carlos Alcaraz, who is sidelined due to a right wrist injury, while Jasmine Paolini in 2025 became the first Italian woman to raise the trophy in 40 years.
"I don't play for records. I play just for my own story. And obviously at the same time it means a lot to me," said Sinner, who has not been beaten at an ATP Masters event since October 2024.
Sinner broke serve in the opening game for a third straight match and never lost control against Rublev, who was once ranked as high as No 5. His win streak extends to almost four months, with his last loss coming against Jakub Mensik on February 19 at the Qatar Open.
Sinner will next face Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals on Friday, live on Your Site Tennis, after the Russian came back to beat Spanish qualifier 1-6 6-4 7-5.
The Italian Open is the only Masters event that Sinner hasn't won, while Djokovic has won each ATP Masters 1000 event twice over.
In the women's tournament, Coco Gauff beat 36-year-old Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-3 to reach the final for a second straight year.
Gauff saved a match point in a three-set victory over Iva Jovic in the fourth round and then came back from a set down to defeat Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals. But against Cirstea, Gauff got 78 per cent of her first serves in and had only one double fault.
"I'm just happy to be through in straight sets today. It's been a marathon week," she said.
Gauff will face Elina Svitolina in Saturday's final after the Ukranian stunned three-time Italian Open champion Iga Swiatek with a gusty 6-4 2-6 6-2 victory.
Svitolina played aggressively by winning the first set but Swiatek came fighting back and had momentum on her side going into the deciding set.
But, Svitolina won a long opening game to hold serve then upped her risk-taking again to see off the world No 3, just 24 hours after beating world No 2 Elena Rybakina.
"It's amazing. The feeling is unreal to be here in the final after so many years," said Svitolina.
"I've played Coco many times and we both know we will bring the fight. But I want to enjoy this win, then be ready for the final."
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