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‘Hungry’ Sinner seeks to chill Zverev in Miami SFs, with Sunshine Double in sight
Zverev final beat Sinner in 2023
March 27, 2026
ATP
Jannik Sinner leads Alexander Zverev 7-4 of their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection.
By Arthur Kapetanakis
Jannik Sinner is driving plenty of streaks into the Miami Open offered by Itau semi-finals. The one which issues most is his 10-match profitable run that dates again to Indian Wells. Two extra victories and he’ll grow to be the primary man since Roger Federer in 2017 to finish the Sunshine Double — profitable Miami and Indian Wells in the identical season.
The No. 2 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings can be on a report streak of 30 consecutive units gained on the ATP Masters 1000s, going again to his title run on the Rolex Paris Masters. And courting again to the beginning of 2024, Sinner is on a six-match profitable streak towards his semi-final opponent, Alexander Zverev. That features a 6-2, 6-4 semi-final end result two weeks in the past en path to the Indian Wells crown.
Zverev rattled off 4 straight victories towards the Italian from 2020-23 however now trails their Lexus ATP Head2Head collection 4-7. The German has additionally been dominant in Miami, dropping only one set in 4 wins — to Marin Cilic within the third spherical. Zverev turned in his most spectacular efficiency within the quarter-finals, overwhelming 18th seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 6-2.
Discovering success with an emphasis on aggressive tennis, Zverev notched three of his 4 Miami wins with out going through a break level, in accordance with Infosys ATP Stats. He has misplaced serve simply as soon as within the event. He’ll want extra of the identical to hassle Sinner.
“Tomorrow would be the hardest take a look at,” Zverev stated after advancing to his twenty fifth ATP Masters 1000 semi-final. “I’m trying ahead to it. I’ve been feeling fairly nicely, and hopefully it’ll proceed.”
The German owns probably the most ATP Masters 1000 wins this decade (105) and has reached the semis at 5 of the previous six occasions at that prestigious degree. He will probably be competing in his third Miami semi-final, with a runner-up end in 2018. By no means earlier than has he reached the semis at each Indian Wells and Miami in the identical season.
Sinner stands out as the solely participant hotter than Zverev within the South Florida warmth. The Italian scored his most emphatic results of the event in a 6-2, 6-2 Wednesday win towards dwelling favorite Frances Tiafoe, shedding simply 9 factors on serve and firing 14 aces in eight service video games.
After profitable eight titles in his breakout 2024 season and 6 final 12 months, he now seeks his second of this season.
“To be hungry [for more success], I feel is sort of pure,” stated Sinner after advancing to the Miami semis for the fourth time in 5 appearances. “Mentally you need to keep calm and be relaxed additionally off the courtroom, as a result of I performed a whole lot of tennis prior to now three or 4 weeks with all of the follow periods and every thing. I’m attempting to maintain going. I do know that is my final event on laborious courts earlier than occurring clay, so I’m very pleased to make the semis once more.”
Sinner has by no means misplaced a accomplished match earlier than the ultimate in Miami, although he retired within the 2022 quarters towards Cerundolo. He’s on a 10-match profitable streak on the occasion after dropping only one set on his technique to the 2024 title.
As a result of he’s not defending any PIF ATP Rankings factors this 12 months, Sinner can transfer inside 1,540 factors of World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz with the title. The trophy would additionally transfer him inside 50 factors of the Spaniard within the PIF ATP Reside Race To Turin.
Zverev will leapfrog Novak Djokovic and return to No. 3 within the PIF ATP Rankings subsequent week behind his semi-final run, and will go Daniil Medvedev for third within the PIF ATP Reside Race To Turin with a win towards Sinner. By claiming the title, he would transfer inside 10 factors of Sinner for second.
The winner of the semi-final showdown between the second and third seeds will enter the title match as a agency favorite towards Arthur Fils or Jiri Lehecka, each of whom are looking for their first ATP Masters 1000 ultimate.
When are the Miami tennis semi-finals?
The Miami Open offered by Itau semi-finals will happen on Friday 27 March.
Who’s enjoying within the Miami tennis semi-finals?
The semi-finals function Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Jiri Lehecka and Arthur Fils.
How can I watch the Miami tennis semi-finals?
Watch dwell on TennisTVTV Schedule
Did You Know?Since 2021, Hubert Hurkacz, Carlos Alcaraz and Jakub Mensik all gained their maiden ATP Masters 1000 title in Miami. Might Fils or Lehecka be subsequent?
