Jannik Sinner matches stunning record of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Alcaraz after Roland Garros win
Jannik Sinner paid an emotional tribute to Rafael Nadal after he won his opening match at the French Open with a fine victory over Arthur Rinderknech of France.
World No 1 Sinner was in dominant form as he recorded a 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 triumph over a spirited opponent, with his win seeing him join a special club of players who have won 15 straight matches in Grand Slam events.
Sinner won the US Open last September and backed it up with victory at the Australian Open in January.
Now he has recorded a 15th straight win in Grand Slams, in an achievement that has only been matched by Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the past two decades.
Sinner paid tribute to Nadal after his win against Rinderknech, as he was taken to the plaque unveiled in Nadal’s honour during the ceremony to celebrate the 14-time Grand Slam champion on Sunday.
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“What can I say? The player we all know, but the person he was and still is,” said Sinner. “He never changed with success and this (plaque) is the least this court can do. The way he was with the ball kids and everyone at the tournaments. He’s a role model for all of us.”
Sinner also spoke about Nadal in a Roland Garros press conference as he stated: “There’s not much to say about Rafa and his dominance on clay. He is by far the most accomplished player on this surface. He moves and positions himself brilliantly.
“His use of topspin and incredible physical shape – I can mention many other elements. Above all, there’s the mental strength he imposed while trying to understand every situation on the court.
“He knows Court Phillipe-Chatrier better than anyone else and deserves a fantastic ceremony. Not only because of his achievements, but also his behaviour on the court.
“He gave us so much, especially for our generation and those who came after us. We all looked up to him. Rafa showed us it’s possible to be a successful tennis player and remain humble.
“I was lucky to know him a bit better while he competed, and we practiced a lot. He is exactly how you see him – he is not faking anything. He is a fantastic role model for all of us.
“We have been lucky to compete or grow up during his Roland Garros era and witness it. His matches against Novak and Roger and everything else is amazing to remember. I’m very fortunate to be here.”
Jannik Sinner on Rafa Nadal’s eternal footprint at Roland Garros
“What can I say? The player we all know, but the person he was and still is.. he never changed with success… this is the least this court can do. He’s a role model to all of us.”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) May 26, 2025
Nadal spoke about Sinner’s impact at his press conference on Sunday, as the Spaniard gave his full backing to the Italian following his recent three-month ban following a failed doping test.
“He’s had an impressive year and a half. He was very solid in the game, very focused, but he was also able to maintain emotional stability, which was very difficult,” said Nadal.
“He showed great maturity. On the other hand, I’ve said it several times: I’m totally convinced that Jannik never wanted to cheat or do anything illicit. I’d bet my life on it.
“There’s always a lot of fuss about this kind of thing, and when it happens, it’s bad for everyone. For him, who, I think, has been through an ordeal for a year. Obviously for tennis, this kind of thing is negative.
“After that, if you question everything in life, you can question everything. All I’m saying is that I trust Jannik. But just as I trust Jannik, I also trust the law. I don’t like to give my opinion on things I don’t know. I understand that when the courts make decisions, it’s because they have all the necessary information that we don’t have.
“So I don’t like to see other players talking about it, without having the information. The people who have it, throughout the whole process, are the ones who have to make the decisions and judge the facts.
“I really don’t believe that, because Jannik is number 1 in the world, he would have been treated differently. I don’t believe in that. For twenty years, I’ve undergone all the controls, which are very numerous every year. I know how strict they are.
“If decisions have been taken in Jannik’s favour, excusing him, saying he’s not guilty, it’s because the court that had to analyze the facts had all the evidence and all the arguments to take that decision. And we don’t have all that. For me, it’s a way of creating confusion and it seems unfair.”
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