Sinner beats Tiafoe 6-2, 6-2 to reach the semifinals of the Miami Open
Jannik Sinner from Italy and former world #1 is on a mission to win the Sunshine Double. The last player to achieve this feat – winning back-to-back Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami – it was Roger Federer at 2017.
Sinner, current world No. 2 and four-time Grand Slam champion, was all business in South Florida. In seventy-one minutes, the twenty-four-year-old sent the American and 19seed, Francis Tiafoe. The Maryland native started the season ranked 30th but has grown to 20th, after reaching the final in Acapulco (l. Cobolli).
The twenty-eight-year-old survived two threes in a row and saved two match points to beat defending champion Jakob Mensik. Seeking his first semifinal at the Miami Open, he ran into a formidable opponent and ran out of gas.
Photo by: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
Their last match took place in August 2024and Sinner led head to head 4-1. Sinner, on the way to the neighborhood, no group had fallen. He won the toss and elected to take.
While the American was driving 30-0he fell after committing four unforced errors. Sinner opened with four winners in a row, including two aces for a love hold to consolidate the break. Tiafoe did 3/5 first it is easy to serve and maintain 15 ABOUT 1-2.
Sinner opened and closed the fourth with aces to lead 3-1. Tiafoe opened the fifth with his first ace, but dropped serve after two consecutive ground faults.
Sinner hit two aces in a row and although he double-faulted, he held 30 to consolidate the break for 5-1. Tiafoe serving to stay in the set hit two winners, including his second ace on game point. Sinister served with new balls hit two straight aces and with a monster tee serve, sealed the set 6-2.
Tiafoe served first in the second and held despite facing two games and a break point. The sinner opened and closed with aces and held to level at love. Tiafoe hit his third ace but dropped serve after four unforced errors, including a double fault.
Sinner hit three straight winners, including two extra aces, and held on 15 to consolidate the break. Tiafoe made two unforced errors but held on 30 ABOUT 2-3. Sinner hit his thirteenth ace but was faced with two points before holding with an inside-to-for winning lead and a backhand from his opponent.
Tiafoe opened the seventh with a forehand error and, with two more, dropped serve. Sinner served for the semifinal and secured victory with four straight winners, including an ace on set point.
It was clinical and surgical. The sinner competed with determination, purpose and a sense of urgency. He finished with 14 ace, 1 double fault, and won 83First % and 69% of second serve points.
While not facing a break point, he converted 4/7. He was just as impressive when he returned, winning 47First % and 59% of second serve return points.
Masters six times 1000 the champion hosts the Alexander Zverev/Francisco Cerundolo quarterfinal winner. Head to head, he leads Zverev 7-4 and Cerundolo 4-2. At the Miami Open at 2022the Italian retired 1-4 in his quarterfinal match against Cerundolo.
Sinner has reached the Miami Open final three times. While triumphing in 2024 (d. Dimitrov), lost to Hubert Hurkacz in 2021 and Daniil Medvedev in 2023.
