Jannik Sinner could create more history when he takes to the court at the Miami Masters on Sunday after extending his current winning streak to 11 matches in a row.
The world No.2 moved into the final after edging his way past Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6(4). Sinner is only the seventh man in history to have reached the title match in Miami for the fourth time in his career. He was runner-up in 2021 and 2023, before winning the trophy in 2024.
In his latest match, Sinner won 79% of his first service points and fired 28 winners past Zverev, who is currently ranked fourth in the world. On top of this, he remained unbroken throughout the 114-minute encounter.
“It was a very high-quality match from both of us. Just a couple of points that made the difference,” Sinner told reporters.
“I served very well in the end, which helped me. So, I’m very happy.”
One particular standout aspect of the Italian’s latest performance was his serve, which he insists is still a work in progress with his team. He is coached by Simone Vagnozzi and Darren Cahill, who both started working with Sinner during the 2022 season.
“It’s a very long process and we keep working, trying to understand what the best motion is, with the right rhythm on the serve,” he explains.
“I have days where I serve really, really well. I have days where I struggle a little bit. But this is tennis.
“At times we feel the backhand better, and then the forehand. Then you go on court the next day, and it’s completely different. So, the service is the same.”
The 24-year-old is a win away from achieving the sunshine double, which is winning Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. It is a rare milestone in men’s tennis that has been achieved by only seven players, with Roger Federer being the last to accomplish it in 2017.
However, Sinner could become the first to achieve the milestone without dropping a set at both tournaments.
“It’s good to put myself in this position. I try to perform in the best possible way in every event,” he said.
“I have played some great tennis in the past (in Miami) and now I am finding myself again. The final means a lot to me.”
Awaiting Sinner on Sunday will be Jiri Lehecka, who is through to his first Masters 1000 final at the age of 24. The Czech breezed past Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-2 in his semi-final match. Earlier in the tournament, he also defeated the sixth seed, Taylor Fritz.
On paper, Sinner is the heavy favourite against Lehecka. He has won all three of their meetings on the ATP Tour without dropping a set and hasn’t lost to a player outside the top 20 (excluding retirements) since Halle last summer.
“It’s definitely a court that suits him very well,” Sinner said of his next opponent.
“The way he plays tennis, it is a very flat hitting forehand and backhand, serving very well. He is a very aggressive player. And this is perfect for these kinds of conditions here.”
Sinner has won 25 out of 34 finals he has played on the ATP Tour so far in his career.
