The smile on the face of Jannik Sinner after securing the Miami Open title was revelatory in so many ways about how this extraordinary champion is feeling about his growing stature in the game of tennis and the game of life at the moment.
By virtue of his 6-4, 6-4 Miami Open final round triumph over a resolute Jiri Lehecka in a match twice delayed by long rain delays, Sinner established himself as only the eighth man ever to sweep the coveted “Sunshine Double” comprising the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells followed by Miami. He joins an elite cast of sterling competitors who have realized that considerable feat. Jim Courier was the first to do it in 1991, followed by Michael Chang in 1992, Pete Sampras (1994), Marcelo Rios (1998), Andre Agassi (2001), Roger Federer (2005, 2006, 2017), and Novak Djokovic 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016).
Sinner, however, is the first man ever to garner these two Masters 1000 titles back to back without losing a set. He has now won 34 straight sets at the Masters 1000 level dating back to last autumn, including 24 in succession at Indian Wells and Miami. This version of Sinner might well be the best he has ever put on display for the world to witness, predominantly because his serve is so much better than ever before in terms of consistency, precision and power. Time and again in Miami, whenever he needed an unanswerable first serve in the heat of an arduous battle, Sinner managed to find it.
That was no accident whatsoever. When he lost the U.S. Open final to Carlos Alcaraz last September in four sets, the serve was irrefutably his undoing. He connected with only 48% of his first serves that day, and was broken five times. Sinner went back to the drawing board with his coaches after the Open and revamped his serve in subtle yet crucial ways, and ever since it has been a decidedly more reliable weapon and resource. At Indian Wells he was broken only twice across six matches and in Miami he lost his serve only once in six contests. That, coupled with his crackling and utterly reliable ground game, more willingness to take chances and come forward and volley, and guileful use of the drop shot have turned Sinner into an even more masterful tennis player.
In the final of Miami against an inspired Lehecka— who was appearing in his first Masters 1000 final— Sinner came out of the gates primed for battle, breaking Lehecka in the third game. That was noteworthy because Lehecka had yet to be broken in the tournament. The 24-year-old had erased all nine break points against him against five other adversaries. But Sinner was soon in a precarious position. Serving in the fourth game, he fell behind 0-40, looking apprehensive in the process. But this was the defining moment of the match. He needed only five swings of the racket to climb out of a triple break point predicament, releasing three service winners in a row followed by a pair of aces. To 3-1 he went after that brave and bold stand.
Surviving that mini-crisis allowed Sinner to recover his customary confidence on serve. He swept 12 of 13 points in three commanding holds as he took that opening set 6-4, but did miss out on a good opportunity with Lehecka serving at 3-5. The Czech player saved two set points in a seven deuce game to make Sinner serve out the set. The ever composed Italian proceeded to hold at love to seal that set, but Lehecka gave himself the chance to start serving in the second set.
Lehecka was down 15-30 in the first game of that second set when rain caused a lengthy delay. When he returned, the No. 21 seed took three points in a row to hold, and then managed to fend off three break points at 1-1 and two more at 2-2. As the set progressed, Sinner felt the weight of his own expectations and the heat of his opponent’s big hitting game. At 3-4, Sinner trailed 0-30 but collected four critical points in a row to stay on level terms.
Relieved by rescuing himself there, Sinner broke Lehecka in the ninth game with one of his patented angled crosscourt forehands pulling Lehecka off the court and rushing him into a mistake. Serving for the match, Sinner commenced the tenth game with two aces, and closed it with a forehand swing volley winner and a conventional forehand volley into the clear to hold at 15 and complete a hard earned triumph. He won an astounding 33 of 36 first serve points against Lehecka.
Heading into the final of Miami, Sinner had already reaffirmed his supremacy as a hard court player of the highest order with his exploits in both California and Florida. Before reviewing his authoritative play all through the Miami Open, let’s consider what he did on the slower courts in Indian Wells at the BNP Paribas Open. Sinner surged through that elite field with little or no hesitation, which was no mean feat.
His self conviction had been somewhat diminished by losing in his first two tournament appearances of 2026. At the Australian Open, he was in search of a third straight title. But ten-time victor Novak Djokovic upended the Italian in a splendid penultimate round evening contest played on a lofty level across five enthralling sets. On that memorable occasion, Djokovic produced one of his classic clutch performances, saving 16 of 18 break points over the course of the match, erasing all eight break points he faced across three different service games in the final set. Sinner served 26 aces and won 16 more points (154 to 138) than his renowned adversary, but still came out on the losing end.
On he went to Doha, hoping to recover his winning ways. But Sinner was beaten there by the 2025 Miami Open champion, bowing out in a three set quarterfinal against Jakub Mensik. That was not really such a big deal, but the critics hyperbolically turned the loss into something more than what it actually was. In any event, Sinner returned to Indian Wells even more determined than usual to claim the crown and ignite his season.
He did just that. After a pair of straightforward triumphs took him into the round of 16, Sinner took on the immensely promising and unmistakably charismatic Joao Fonseca, who was ranked No. 35 in the world at the time but is destined in my view to rise to the very top of the rankings in the future. Their clash was a spectator’s delight, featuring dazzling shotmaking from both players. The Brazilian was not the least bit in awe of the world No. 2. In fact, Fonseca was on the edge of a spectacular first set victory.
He built a 6-3, triple set lead in the tie-break behind some admirable big point second serves, supreme velocity off the forehand and astonishing ball control which put himself in an enviable position. But Sinner was implacable when placed in a dark corner. He swept five consecutive points to salvage that set with a signature display of poise under pressure. Sinner surged to 5-2 in the second set but Fonseca struck back boldly to force another tiebreak. The 19-year-old took a 4-3 lead in this sequence but once more Sinner met a defining moment with clarity and courage, sweeping four points in a row to complete a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) triumph.
Surely, that will be the first of many riveting skirmishes between these two remarkable competitors. Be that at it may, Sinner— relieved and exhilarated when it was over—used the experience to propel himself through the tournament. He crushed the creative left-hander Learner Tien 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals and picked apart No. 4 seed Sascha Zverev 6-2, 6-4 in a one-sided semifinal.
That set the stage for an intriguing final round collision between Sinner and a reinvigorated Daniil Medvedev. The 6’6”, 30-year-old had stunned top seeded Carlos Alcaraz the previous afternoon in the semifinals, prevailing 6-3, 7-6 (3), handing the Spaniard his first defeat of 2026, ending a 16 match winning streak from the seven-time major champion. Medvedev’s unrelenting aggression from the baseline and capacity to hit through the court with regularity carried him to only his third win in nine career contests against Alcaraz. Medvedev’s free swinging shotmaking was a revelation. He was handsomely rewarded for the risks he ventured to take.
Medvedev tried to play essentially the same way against Sinner in the final, but to no avail. And yet, the fact remains that it took another strong-minded display from Sinner under duress to get him past an obstinate and top of the line Medvedev. In the first set of that Indian Wells final, Sinner was trailing 4-5 in a tie-break when he went for a crosscourt forehand passing shot hit at a high trajectory. Medvedev miscalculated, thinking the ball was going long. It landed safely inside the court for a winner. Instead of being down double set point, Sinner was back to 5-5. He won that sequence 8-6. The second set was also settled in a tie-break, and, when Medvedev commandingly reached 4-0, he seemed certain to take the battle into a third set.
But nothing is ever certain when opponents of Jannik Sinner try to finish him off. Utterly composed in a crisis as he so often is,
Sinner left a weary Medvedev dumbfounded by collecting seven straight points to complete a 7-6 (6), 7-6 (4) win over a formidable adversary and thus deservedly claim the Indian Wells crown for the first time. Medvedev was victorious in his first six career appointments against Alcaraz but has now lost nine of their last ten meetings. The fact remains that Medvedev acquitted himself remarkably well this time around despite falling narrowly short against an unswerving opponent.
Now the Italian stylist moved on to Miami feeling more like the essential Sinner, casting aside five adversaries without losing a set en route to his final round appointment with Lehecka. After two routine wins, he had by his lofty standards a disappointing day at the office against Alex Michelsen of the United States in the round of 16. Michelsen was ahead 5-3 in the second set before Sinner—mistiming one shot after another from the baseline in an uneven performance—lifted his game at crucial moments to win 7-5, 7-6 (4).
That test was beneficial to Sinner, toughening him up, making him buckle down as he looked to unveil his best work. The Italian ruthlessly cast aside Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 6-2 in the quarterfinals after the American had saved two match points on his way to defeating the defending champion Mensik, and then rallied from 0-40 down at 4-4 in the final set to oust the dangerous left-handed Frenchman Terence Atmane in another hard fought, three set skirmish.
Sinner now faced Zverev in the semifinals, just as he had done a few weeks before at Indian Wells. But this was a much better match. Zverev took the initiative off the ground and went for his forehand fearlessly. He looked to come in whenever possible.
And he served with far greater accuracy and consistency than he had in his previous appointment against Sinner.
In the end, Sinner was too good once more, ousting Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (4). But the scoreline does not do justice to the caliber of Zverev’s game, or the passion and perspicacity with which he performed. The soon to be 29-year-old German fought ferociously and pushed Sinner close to his limits. After fending off a break point on his way to 2-1 in the opening set, Sinner broke Zverev to move ahead 3-1 with a scintillating forehand down the line winner. The Italian held the rest of the way to seal that set, but Zverev was undismayed.
At 2-2 in the second set, Zverev saved a break point and held on steadfastly. Later, Sinner was serving at 3-4 but now it was his turn to face a break point. Sinner coaxed an error from Zverev with a well struck backhand crosscourt and held on with typical clarity and gumption. Zverev soon found himself down 15-40 in the ninth game but was in no mood to panic, eventually holding on with a pair of aces.
The high standard being set by both players made the end of that set particularly enjoyable. Serving at 5-6, Sinner unleashed no fewer than four aces, holding at 15 to bring about a tie-break. At the start of the tie-break, on his way to a 2-1 lead, Sinner released two more aces. At 4-4 in that critical sequence, Zverev approached the net behind a swing volley, then retreated for an overhead as Sinner lobbed down the middle. The German did not fully commit to that shot, tentatively sending his smash into the net.
That lapse was fatal. A determined Sinner— who did not miss a first serve in the tie-break— swiftly garnered the next two points to wrap up the victory. The purposeful way he played under extreme tension was emblematic of the way he had flourished all through Indian Wells and Miami. Sinner was simply unflappable. He made 16 first serves in a row at the end of that stirring clash.
What made Sinner’s run through the “Sunshine Double” all the more remarkable was how it coincided with Alcaraz falling short of his aspirations in both tournaments. After the Medvedev setback in California, many in the know believed the Spaniard would make amends in Miami and join Sinner for a title round contest. Alcaraz did take apart Fonseca in the second round after an opening round bye, but he was then clearly caught off guard by one of the game’s great underachievers.
Playing perhaps the finest tennis of his career, Sebastian Korda had won the ATP tournament in Delray Beach, Florida in February over Tommy Paul. Confronting Alcaraz in the round of 32 at Miami on the opening Sunday afternoon, Korda concluded the first set stylishly, capturing 12 of the last 17 points and three consecutive games from 3-3 to move out in front. The 25-year-old American maintained his momentum to lead 3-1 in the second set with a break point for 4-1, but Alcaraz held on.
Nonetheless, Korda, who had yet to be broken, served for the match at 5-4, and flagrantly gagged. Alcaraz broke back, held, broke again and stole the set 7-5. Korda seemingly had wasted a golden opportunity to record only his second triumph over the world’s top ranked player in six career duels.
But appearances were deceiving. Korda picked himself up off the floor and found the ceiling of his game once more. Serving at 1-2, 0-30, in the third set, Korda was in danger of allowing Alcaraz to take permanent control and dash to one of his patented comeback wins. But Korda, too often prone to losing matches like this one in the past, refused to surrender. An ace and a perfectly packaged serve-and-volley combination brought Korda back to 30-30 and he went on to hold for 2-2. The American then broke Alcaraz in the seventh game and gave himself a second chance to serve the match out at 5-4. This time he did not waver. Korda came through 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, but then met some misfortune against the immensely capable Spaniard Martin Landaluce, who saved a match point in the second set tie-break and toppled Korda in the round of 16 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4. Although Landaluce was beaten in the quarters by Lehecka 7-6 (1), 7-5, he left no doubt in the minds of his admirers that he will have an outstanding 2026 season.
In any event, the rest of this compelling 2026 season could well be a goldmine for Jannik Sinner. He has never come into a clay court campaign with so much momentum. Last year he had to serve a three month suspension which kept him out of Indian Wells, Miami and most of the clay court circuit. He did not return until Rome. This year he can play a full schedule and give himself the best possible chance to complete a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros. We too easily forget how close he came to prevailing on the French clay the past two years. He was ahead of Alcaraz two sets to one in the 2024 French Open semifinals and had triple match point against the Spaniard last year in the final before bowing out in five set skirmishes.
Remarkably, the game’s two greatest players and the sport’s dynamic duo have still not faced each other in 2026. Alcaraz will be raring to go on the clay after his early exit in Miami, but his losses in California and Florida have surely taken some of his self conviction and swagger away.
Meanwhile, players like Lehecka, the flamboyant Frenchman Arthur Fils and Korda seem poised to play the best tennis of their lives. Lehecka was overdue to produce the kind of tennis he unveiled in Miami. Clay is not his best surface but the fact remains that he is riding high. Fils has made a stunning comeback this year after being out with a serious injury from late July of 2025 until February. The dynamic Frenchman has played five tournaments in 2026 and has already been to one final, two quarterfinals and the penultimate round in Miami, where he prevailed in the match of the tournament from quadruple match point down against Tommy Paul in the quarterfinals under the lights. Fils rallied valiantly from 2-6 in the third set tie-break against the esteemed American to win six points in a row for an astonishing 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6) victory as neither player broke serve in the match. Fils is an awfully good clay court player and always a fan favorite.
But the view here is that Sinner is the central figure in the game right now and ready to start closing in on Alcaraz again in their riveting battle for supremacy in the men’s game. He trails Alcaraz by 1190 points in the PIF ATP Rankings. The Spaniard has a gargantuan total of 4300 points to protect on the European clay in the coming weeks. Sinner is only protecting 1,950 points and has nothing to protect until Rome— where he lost to Alcaraz in the final last year. The view here is that there is a better than even chance Sinner will regain the No. 1 ranking in time for Roland Garros, a projection I could never have made even a few weeks ago. I’m certain you will agree with me that these next bunch of months in men’s tennis are going to be highly enjoyable to follow.
