Two-week turnaround: Sinner’s Miami Alcaraz mastery
The Italian defeated his opponent in the ATP Masters 1000 semifinals the previous year.
Carlos Alcaraz congratulates Jannik Sinner following the pair’s exciting 2023 Miami semifinal match.By Andy West
At the 2023 Miami Open sponsored by Itau, Jannik Sinner came dangerously close to winning the championship, but not before making a significant statement about his rivalry with Carlos Alcaraz at Hard Rock Stadium.
Alcaraz and Sinner had made a name for themselves as two of the ATP Tour’s most promising young players during the majority of the previous two years.
Sinner entered Miami as the World No. 11, but Alcaraz’s ascent had carried him all the way to his first Grand Slam victory at the 2022 US Open and, with it, the distinction of becoming the youngest No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings history.
The Italian was still working to establish himself as a regular title contender on the biggest stages of the game, even though he had proven he could be consistent at that point, having won one ATP 500 and seven ATP 250 titles and advanced to the quarterfinals of all four Grand Slams.
After winning his first four matches in Miami without dropping a set, including a victory over Top 10 player Andrey Rublev in the fourth round, 2021 finalist Sinner set up a matchup with Alcaraz in the last four that also served as a chance for quick retribution.
Two weeks earlier, at the BNP Paribas Open, Alcaraz had won the title with ease, defeating the Italian in straight sets.
Alcaraz was the clear favorite to win the title again in Miami when they met in Indian Wells, where he went on to win the trophy without dropping a set. Sinner, nevertheless, remained quite confident going into their sixth Lexus ATP Head2Head matchup.
Before the match, Sinner remarked, “I [am] glad to play against him again because I look forward to these kinds of battles.”
“I believe that he improves my game. The court moves quickly here. Here on these courts, I believe we both feel comfortable.
However, the Italian could have worried that he was seeing deja vu when Alcaraz overcame a breakaway to win the first tiebreak at Hard Rock Stadium.
Sinner was up against Alcaraz for the fifth set in a row, but he was almost out of the match when he faced two break points at 3-4 in the second set.
But the Italians stormed back to rekindle the competition in a magnificent manner. In the decider, he took the second set and led 2-0 after winning 19 of 21 points.
Sinner did not waver once under the Miami lights during a contest that saw both players play fearless, aggressive tennis throughout. Sinner held firm to record an incredible 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-2 victory in three hours and two minutes.
It has great significance. Once more, we both performed at an extremely high caliber of tennis. Sinner spoke of his attempt at “simply trying my best” after reaching his second Miami final.
“I tried to push there after observing him struggle a little bit for a few games in the third set. We both attempted to play very aggressive tennis, and I’m delighted to report that today it went my way.”
Sinner’s victory in Miami brought his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Alcaraz to a 3-3 draw. Whatever the outcome, the pair’s semifinal match served as yet another example of how their nascent rivalry was growing in interest among players and spectators alike on the ATP Tour.
You might also enjoy: Jannik Sinner: A Winner by Nature
Sinner said, “I think it’s also really fun to play when both players play tennis like that.” “You can sense it in the crowd as well. That seemed like really positive energy throughout.
First of all, it’s enjoyable to watch these kinds of matchups, and secondly, you constantly feel like you need to improve during the game. That, I believe, was the situation today.
In the first set, Sinner was serving at 4-2, 0/15, and there was an incredible 25-ball rally that was maybe the match’s most memorable moment.
Both players had outstanding defensive abilities to extend the play, but Sinner, who was under pressure as Alcaraz stormed the net, clipped a beautiful backhand pass to erupt cheers from the audience.
Afterwards, Alcaraz remarked, “It was an astonishing point.” “He’s unbreakable, this guy,” was the first thought that went through my mind after losing that point. We both seemed to be playing at a very high level, and we had a terrific game.
I think I broke his serve in that particular game. However, there are always excellent points like this one when facing Jannik.
Daniil Medvedev won 7-5, 6-3 in the final to deny Sinner the trophy, but he still makes a trip back to Miami this year as one of the guys to beat on the tour.
Despite losing to Alcaraz in the Indian Wells semifinals for the second time in a row last week, the World No. 3 started 2024 with 16 wins, and the 22-year-old is now in a better position than ever to upset his opponents at Hard Rock Stadium.
