Jannik Sinner is on a mission to extend his remarkable winning streak at the Italian Open, where he steps onto the court as the tournament's top seed. The world number one has been unstoppable this season, racking up five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles, including his latest triumph in Madrid. Add victories in Monte Carlo, Indian Wells, and Miami to the list, and it's clear that Sinner is playing at an elite level that few can match.

His journey through the Italian Open hasn't been without drama, though. In his fourth-round match against Denis Shapovalov, Sinner looked sharp after taking the first set before rain suspended play on Wednesday night. When action resumed on Thursday, the Canadian pushed him hard, forcing a deciding set before the Italian ultimately prevailed. Even Stan Wawrinka, who had a front-row seat while waiting for his own rain-delayed match against Stefanos Tsitsipas, got a close look at Sinner's resilience.

So, what's the secret behind Sinner's dominance? He's always been known as one of the best ball strikers in tennis, with aggressive shotmaking from both wings. But the game-changer now is his ability to defend and counter—a skill that became even more apparent after the heavy rain delays. His improved defense is paying off in a big way, especially on his serve, which faced heavy criticism after last year's US Open final loss to Carlos Alcaraz, where his first-serve percentage was just 48%.

Since then, Sinner has worked tirelessly on his rhythm and toss, and the results are staggering. He now leads the entire ATP Tour in serve rating with a mark of 300.4. While his first-serve percentage still has room for improvement at 63.4% (ranking 39th), he tops the charts in first-serve points won at 79.8%. His second-serve points won rate of 58.9% and service games won rate of 92.5% are equally impressive, cementing his status as a formidable opponent on any surface.

Despite being without his usual coach, Simone Vagnozzi, for a fifth straight tournament due to a suspension, Sinner has thrived on clay. Rick Macci, former coach of Serena Williams, believes that success will continue. Writing in his signature style on X, Macci predicted, "Beating Sinner at the French Open will take a near-perfect performance." With his newfound defensive prowess and dominant serve, Sinner is proving that he's not just a one-dimensional power player—he's a complete athlete ready to challenge for every title in sight.