Jannik Sinner ousts Alexander Zverev to book Miami Open final with Jiri Lehecka

MIAMI – Jannik Sinner just wants to play “good tennis” and he could not be happier after stretching his win streak over Alexander Zverev to seven matches on March 27, advancing to a Miami Open final against Jiri Lehecka.

The 24-year-old Italian fired 15 aces in beating Germany’s Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) after 1hr 53min – boosting his streak of consecutive sets won at the elite Masters 1000 level to 32.

He also improved to 8-4 all-time against the German.

Sinner is trying to become the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the “Sunshine Double” by winning titles at Indian Wells and Miami in the same year.

“Standing here again in a final means very much to me,” he said. “We’ll try to push in a couple of days but in any case it has been an incredible swing.”

Reigning Wimbledon champion Sinner, a four-time Grand Slam winner, also beat Zverev two weeks ago in the Indian Wells semi-finals and seeks his second Miami crown in three years.

“Coming here, trying to produce some good tennis, that was my main goal,” he added. “Trying to play as many matches as possible. I couldn’t do better. I’m very happy.

“Today has been a very tough encounter. He played some incredible tennis. I was serving very well, especially in the crucial moments, so I’m very happy.”

Also attempting a “Sunshine Double” is world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus, who defends her Miami crown against American fourth seed Coco Gauff in the March 28 WTA final, which started after press time.

Lehecka, seeded 21st, dominated 28th-seeded Arthur Fils of France 6-2, 6-2 in the other semi-final at Hard Rock Stadium, home of the National Football League’s Miami Dolphins.

The Czech has yet to take a set in three matches against Sinner.

“He’s an incredible player,” said Sinner as he looked ahead to the final. “He’s going to be for sure more free than me but I try to control whatever I can control and the rest we’ll see how it goes.”

The world No. 2 is seeking a 26th career ATP title in his 35th career final.

Lehecka, who has not dropped a set in the event, will face a huge challenge but one he will relish.

“It (his performance) feels great. It’s definitely something I’ve been working towards the whole year and the whole pre-season,” he said.

“I really trusted my game and the work I put in. It didn’t matter when, but I knew it would come and today was a nice example of how I want to play. I executed it well so I’m very happy with today’s performance.”

Lehecka will jump past his current career-high ranking of 16th on March 30. He is assured of leaping eight spots to 14th and with a title would reach 12th.

The 24-year-old seeks his third ATP title after Adelaide in 2024 and Brisbane in 2025. It is the eighth career final for the Czech but his first in a Masters 1000 event. AFP