Jannik Sinner says win over Carlos Alcaraz in Miami is one of his best
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Jannik Sinner reaches for a forehand against Carlos Alcaraz in their Miami Open semi-final.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
MIAMI – Italian Jannik Sinner described Friday’s comeback win over top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz at the Miami Open as one of the best of his career, saying the contest between the budding rivals displayed high levels of intensity.
The 10th seed defeated the defending champion 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-2 in an epic semi-final duel, ending the Spaniard’s reign at the top of the rankings, with Novak Djokovic set to take over on Monday.
Youngsters Sinner, 21, and Alcaraz, 19, have formed one of the most exciting rivalries on the ATP Tour, each enjoying three wins in their six meetings so far.
For Sinner, Friday’s victory came as an act of revenge after he lost to Alcaraz in Indian Wells
“For sure, it’s one of the best wins. Obviously, it was a very tough match. I think we both played a very, very high-level match,” he said.
“In the third set, I saw him struggling (with leg cramps). I tried to push there, especially the first game, because I knew it’s the last game that he was serving with the used ball, so it’s a bit easier to return.
“I think I changed a couple of things from Indian Wells to here, which I had to, and they went my way. So I’m happy about that.”
Sinner will face Russian Daniil Medvedev in Sunday’s final as he aims for his first Masters 1000 title.
He has yet to beat Medvedev in five meetings, their most recent match coming in the Rotterdam final in February.
“Different conditions (here) than in Rotterdam. I’m very happy that I can face him in a final again,” the Italian added.
“The last one I lost obviously, but I’ll try my best, I’ll try to make some good changes, like today against Carlos, and let’s see. I feel good on this court.”
Alcaraz missed the chance to become the first player to win the “Sunshine Double” of Indian Wells and Miami titles since Roger Federer in 2017 but he was happy to experience the “beautiful” rivalry with Sinner once again.
“I feel something different about the crowd when I play against Jannik. I think around the world is probably all the people watching this match because I think it’s really beautiful to watch,” he said.
“I started cramping at the beginning of the third set but it wasn’t the reason I lost the match. He was better than me in the third set. That’s the truth.
“I had an opportunity to get the Sunshine Double but I think I’m going to have more years to try to get it. All I can think about is to improve my level to beat Jannik.”
Medvedev reached his fifth straight ATP Tour final with a 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-3 win over fellow Russian Karen Khachanov.
The 27-year-old, playing against his boyhood friend, survived a second-set comeback but his trademark precision stroke play saw him through against the big-serving Khachanov in a high-quality encounter.
Medvedev also hit 13 aces and saved four of six break points, as the match turned decisively in his favour when he broke his opponent in the fourth game of the third set.
He won 82 per cent (14 of 17) of his first-serve points in the final set and was relieved to have beaten a player who knows his game so well.
“In my opinion, it was a top match,” Medvedev said. “In the first set, when we lost our serves, it was just a good game from the returner.
“In the second set, I had one bad game and he won the set. I had one break point, I could have done better. Then he had one bad game in the third set, I managed to take it and I am really happy to be through. It was a very tough match.” REUTERS, AFP
