Jannik Sinner Daniil Medvedev's new bête noire confirms himself and after the triumph at the Australian Open he gives the Russian a new, brutal defeat (6-1, 6-2) which gives the Italian the final at the Masters 1000 in Miami and the chance to become No. 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 his 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 blue appears 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 was expecting a very tough match and if he had broken me at the start of the match it would have been a different match. We'll see how it goes on Sunday.”
Sinner said he feels now “a very different player and person compared to a year ago (when he lost the final to the Russian, ed.). I hadn't been able to sleep the night before. Now I manage these situations better and I hope to play well in the final. If I win well, if not I will have other opportunities”. The match could not have started better for the Italian player, who after having held the first innings, took it away from his rival in the second game and then defended the advantage in the third despite finding himself 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 has succumbed mentally and also physically in front, contenting themselves 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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