Sinner defeats Tiafoe 6-2, 6-2 to reach Miami Open semifinal

Jannik Sinner from Italy and the former world #1 is on a mission to win the elusive Sunshine Double. The last player to accomplish this feat – winning consecutive Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami – was Roger Federer in 2017.

Sinner, the current world No. 2 and four-time Grand Slam champion, was all business in South Florida. In seventy-one minutes, the twenty-four-year-old dispatched American and 19th seed, Francis Tiafoe. The Maryland native began the season ranked 30th but has risen to 20th, having reached the final in Acapulco (l. Cobolli).

The twenty-eight-year-old survived two consecutive three-setters and saved two match points to defeat the defending champion, Jakob Mensik. Seeking his maiden semifinal at the Miami Open, he ran into a formidable opponent and ran out of gas.

Photo by: Mike Frey-Imagn Images

Their last match was contested in August 2024, and Sinner led the head-to-head 4-1. Sinner, en route to the quarters, had not dropped a set. He won the toss and elected to receive.
While the American led 30-0, he dropped after donating four unforced errors. Sinner opened with four consecutive winners, including two aces for a love hold to consolidate the break. Tiafoe made 3/5 first serves and held easily to 15 for 1-2.  

Sinner opened and closed the fourth with aces to lead 3-1. Tiafoe opened the fifth with his first ace but dumped serve following two consecutive groundstroke errors.

Sinner hit two consecutive aces and though he gifted a double fault, held to 30 to consolidate the break for 5-1. Tiafoe serving to stay in the set hit two winners, including his second ace on game point. Sinner serving with new balls hit two consecutive aces and with a monster serve up the tee, sealed the set 6-2.  

Tiafoe served first in the second and held despite facing two deuce and a break point. Sinner opened and closed with aces and held to love to level. Tiafoe struck his third ace but dropped serve following four unforced errors, including a double fault.

Sinner hit three consecutive winners, including two additional aces, and held to 15 to consolidate the break. Tiafoe committed two unforced errors but held to 30 for 2-3. Sinner hit his thirteenth ace but faced two deuce points before holding with a winning inside-in forehand and a netted backhand from his opponent.

Tiafoe opened the seventh with a forehand error and, with two more, dumped serve. Sinner served for the semis and secured victory with four consecutive winners, including an ace on set point.
It was clinical and surgical. Sinner competed with poise, purpose, and a sense of urgency. He finished with 14 aces, 1 double fault, and won 83% of first and 69% of second serve points.

While not facing a break point, he converted 4/7. He was equally impressive when returning, winning 47% of first and 59% of second serve return points.

The six-time Masters 1000 champion awaits the winner of the Alexander Zverev/Francisco Cerundolo quarterfinal. Head to head, he leads Zverev 7-4 and Cerundolo 4-2. At the Miami Open in 2022, the Italian retired trailing 1-4 in his quarterfinal match against Cerundolo.

Sinner has reached the Miami Open final three times. While triumphing in 2024 (d. Dimitrov), he lost to Hubert Hurkacz in 2021 and Daniil Medvedev in 2023.