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Jannik Sinner raised concerns about his fitness after a post-match interview at the Italian Open. The world No. 1 made history at his home tournament on Thursday, beating Andrey Rublev 6-2 6-4 to claim a record 32nd-consecutive win at Masters 1000 level, breaking the record of 31 matches previously set by Novak Djokovic back in 2011.

But it wasn't smooth sailing for Sinner in the quarter-finals. After leading by a set and a double-break, he was suddenly broken for the first time this week and looked worse for wear. The Italian's first serve percentage dropped, and he was seen leaning down and grabbing his thigh after one game.

Sinner also looked fatigued during the final changeover before serving for the match at 5-4, but came through with no issues to reach the semi-finals in Rome and win his 32nd straight match at a Masters tournament.

However, it was after he left the court that the fatigue really started to show. Sinner has played a lot of tennis, with his last loss coming in February, and he had to support himself during a post-match interview with Laura Robson on Sky Sports.

After asking the world No. 1 just one question, Robson told him: "You're leaning against the wall, it looks like the legs are tired, so I'll let you go." Sinner was very grateful, thanking the retired British player and then doubling over, leaning down, and grabbing his own legs to stay up.

Before Robson let him go, the four-time Major champion explained how he'd been able to sustain his level for so long. "I'm trying to do my best. It has been, until now, an incredible tournament again, standing again here in the last four, and trying just to do my best," he said.

"Every day is different, every match is different, every opponent is different. We try to prepare in the best possible way tactically, which today worked well. He managed to break in the second set, which complicated, a bit, the things. But in the same time, I was always up with the score, I tried to stay as calm as I could."

During a flash interview on the court, Sinner also said he needed to prioritise his recovery ahead of Friday's semi-final, which will see him take on either Daniil Medvedev or Martin Landaluce. "I don't play for records, I play just for my own story. In the same time, it means a lot," the Italian said of his record 32nd straight Masters win.

"But tomorrow is another day, another opponent, a different opponent. We're going to play in different conditions, it's gonna be a night match, so let's see. But now, for me, the highest priority is trying to recover as much as I can physically and then we see how it goes.

"In the same time, also emotionally, it takes a lot, playing here at home. But in the same time, I definitely try to do my best and then we see how it goes. In any way, it is a win-win situation for me, in any case, so it was a good day today."

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