World No.1 Jannik Sinner admitted he never imagined reaching the top echelons of the tennis world. Sinner has been in red-hot form as he has won 32 consecutive matches in the ATP 1000 Masters series.

The top seed bested Andrey Rublev by 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the ongoing Italian Open to make it to the last four of the tournament. 

“I would have never imagined to stand here as the player what I’m right now,” Sinner said in his post-match press conference. “Back in the days when I was younger, I never thought I would arrive to such a high level of tennis.”

If Sinner goes all the way in Rome, he would become the second player to complete the Career Golden Masters, alongside Novak Djokovic.

Sinner expressed his delight with his consistent performances on the tour in the last one year.

“I think last year I also played great clay-court tennis. Made final here. Made final in Paris,” said Sinner, who won Monte-Carlo and Madrid this season. “It has been an incredible run last year. This year is the first time I’ve won something big on clay. But this is also the confidence of the process of what we are trying to produce year after year. Also physically I’m getting stronger. I think [the improvements are] a mix of everything.”

The Italian landed only 39 per cent of his first serves (12/31) in the second set against Rublev.

“It’s normal that one day in the tournament you are slightly tired,” Sinner said of his abnormally low first-serve percentage. “I played a lot also. It has been very long days for me. But I’m happy how I ended the situation.”

Sinner will next take on Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals of the Italian Open.