Jannik Sinner confirms himself as Daniil Medvedev’s new bête noire and after his triumph at the Australian Open he gives the Russian a new, brutal defeat (6-1, 6-2) which earns the Italian the final at the Masters 1000 in Miami and the chance to become number 2 in the world. Having archived the misstep on the penultimate step of Indian Wells, Sinner relaunches himself for the assault also thanks to the involuntary assist of the current holder of the place, Carlos Alcaraz, who was eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.
By winning the final, Sinner will reach the finish line but in the meantime he will enjoy the victory, the fifth in a row over the Russian, who was the title holder in Miami. If in Melbourne the South Tyrolean had to stage a spectacular comeback to get the better of the 28 year old from Moscow, he almost had no mercy on the fast man from Miami, protagonist of a spectacular performance which in just over an hour allowed him to annihilate the rival. Among the spectators was tennis legend Serena Williams, who could only have appreciated the quality of the 23-year-old Italian’s game. Medvedev, fresh from defeat in the Indian Wells final at the hands of Alcaraz, currently seems inferior to his two younger rivals, even if the Spaniard is disconcerting with his marked ups and downs, while the Italian appears to be in constant and spectacular growth and today he achieved his 21st victory on the ATP circuit in 2024. “I felt great on the court, I’m really happy with how it went. He made a lot of mistakes and I took advantage of them – said Sinner in the heat of the moment -. I expected a very tough match and if he had given me the break at the beginning of the match it would have been a different match. We’ll see how it goes on Sunday.” Sinner said that he now feels “a very different player and person compared to a year ago (when he lost the final against the Russian, ed.). The night before I wasn’t able to sleep. Now I manage these situations better and I hope to play well the final. If I win well, if not I will have other opportunities.”
The match couldn’t have started better for the Italian player, who after holding the first serve beat his rival in the second game and then defended the lead in the third despite having to save two break points. The failed comeback dismantled Medvedev who was rather foul and in the fifth game he lost serve again, almost surrendering to an inevitable 6-1, obtained by an almost perfect Italian on the court – eleven points difference between the two in seven game -, in 31 minutes of play. If Medvedev hoped to get back into the match, the start of the second set cooled him because Sinner immediately broke the score and then took a 2-0 lead. A reaction attempt by the Russian, now in confusion, was canceled out by Sinner’s ace and the second break followed, resulting in 4-1. The Muscovite gave in mentally and also physically in front, contenting himself with bringing home a second game before raising the white flag at 6-2. The other finalist will be one between the German Alex Zverev and Dimitrov, a great talent who has always had his Achilles’ heel in his lack of consistency. The Bulgarian shone against Alcaraz, who after some unexpected stops seemed to have regained his luster and confidence. The title won in Indian Wells with a great match against Medvedev seemed like an exit from the tunnel but the illusion soon fell. And his words are the mirror of his torments: “Grigor played perfectly. He made me feel like I was 13 years old, I was lost.” This is how Medvedev also appeared against Sinner, ready to be the first Italian to become No. 2 in the world.
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