Dragos Nicolae Madaras can’t get enough tennis.

A man in form, the 25-year-old Swede is on a 20-match winning streak and leads the ITF World Tennis Tour for both matches - and titles - won this year.

Given his thirst for competition, it is easy to see why.

“I want to play every week,” Madaras said on Friday, while taking an enforced break following the cancellation of two M25 events in Antalya. “Actually, I want to play more tournaments than everyone else this year.

“I enjoy playing tennis a lot. I take it as a challenge, you know? If I’m healthy, and I’m okay mentally, then I can play every week.”

Madaras downed tools when the devastating earthquake hit Turkiye and Syria on 6 February – a day after he had won his fourth ITF singles title in as many weeks, and third of the year on Turkish soil in Antalya.

He paused his schedule in the aftermath of those tragic events further East and went to visit friends in Iran, where he has had time to stew on thoughts of extending his prolific run.

A 13-time ITF singles titlist overall, Madaras plans to resume competition on the ITF World Tennis Tour in Turkiye next week, and it is clear that his brief break has only heightened his competitive instincts.

“My goal this year is that I want to win at least 10 ITF tournaments,” he said, a tally only previously achieved on the ITF World Tennis Tour by Arantxa Rus in 2019 (Mohamed Safwat holds the men's record with nine).

“I have four [titles] right now and I want to go for the record. I want to play every week… I don’t want to stop.”

20-match unbroken winning streak & four titles in four weeks 💪

Presenting the hot (Madaras) streak 🔥@Tennisnyheter

— ITF (@ITFTennis) February 24, 2023

Born and raised in Romania to sporty parents (“my father played football and my mother handball”), Madaras moved to Sweden at the age of 14. He represented Sweden in Davis Cup for the first time last year, where he was part of the team that defeated Japan 3-2 in the Davis Cup Qualifiers to reach the group stage of the 2022 Finals.

Though now based back in Bucharest, playing for Sweden remains a natural choice.

“I’m always very proud to represent Sweden – not only in Davis Cup, but also on the ITF Tour,” he said. “When I played Davis Cup for the first time, I was very nervous, but the captain at the time, Robin Soderling, helped me a lot. He’s an amazing guy – and the team was amazing. We had such team spirit.”

Madaras also tasted tennis at the highest level when he qualified for the ATP 250 tournament in Sofia last October – and, aside from his ambition of tearing up the ITF World Tennis Tour this season, the world No. 293 is eying a place inside the world's top 250, and to make his debut at a Grand Slam qualifying event.

But while many players make bold declarations for their future in the sport, Madaras has a (perhaps) healthy perspective.

“I’m not the kind of player that says I want to be top 100 or No. 1 in the world, you know? I just want to play tennis,” he said. “I enjoy playing tournaments every week. I just want to play, and to enjoy playing.

“Maybe I will be top 100, maybe I will be top 50, maybe I will stay at 300… I don’t know, but I want to continue to enjoy playing tennis at my full capacity. I don’t know what that is, but I’m trying to find out.”