The ATP fully belongs to Jannik Sinner currently. Not only did he regain No. 1 when Carlos Alcaraz was still playing tournaments, but now that the Spaniard has a wrist injury and is out for the foreseeable future, Sinner's lead is going to widen the difference between the top ranking and No. 2 by a great margin.
He didn't play at the 2025 Madrid Masters as the Italian was still serving a three-month suspension for two failed drug tests the previous year at Indian Wells. While that hurt him last year (he lost the year-end top ranking to Alcaraz), this year Sinner is just gobbling up points with nothing to defend.
Moreover, he simply doesn't lose Masters 1000 events anymore. Not, at least, since last October. Who was qualifier Elmer Moller to stand in his way in the third round in Madrid? The Dane was certainly going to try, of course.
Jannik Sinner defeats Elmer Moller at the 2026 Madrid Masters
In the first set, Moller hit with a bombastic forehand, but, unfortunately for him, he was facing Jannik Sinner at the ATP No. 1's top form. For every powerful forehand Moller struck, Sinner would seemingly always answer with more force. The Italian raced to a 5-1 lead until he was, stunningly, broken. This wasn't Moller's work so much as Sinner's slight, and short-lived, dip in form.
To correct matters, the Italian broke right back and took the opening set 6-2. Moller, by this point, was dealing with what appeared to be some kind of abdominal issue. Not that this is why he was so destroyed in the opening set, though. Sinner was just by far the better player.
The second set felt more even, though the score didn't necessarily imply that. The Dane pressed the top-seed more on his serve, and Sinner had to battle a bit to stay ahead. He got a break midway through, however, and while Moller was battling to stay in the set, the outcome seemed certain.
After playing exceedingly clean tennis in set one, with 10 winners and just five unforced errors, Sinner was more even in the second set. He was just a far better player, as he is against everyone currently playing the sport, than Moller, so even a small dip in form was better than what the Dane could produce. The Italian took set two 6-3.
Jannik Sinner will next face the winner of the Cam Norrie and Thiago Agustin Tirante match in the round of 16. Tirante has been playing really well lately, though, so if Sinner does play him, the match could be an interesting one.
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