Sinner defeated third-seeded Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 6-2 in the Miami Open semifinals on Friday, extending his impressive record to 21 wins and just 1 loss this year.
The solid Sinner, known for his powerful forehand, made history by becoming the first player since 2019 to reach consecutive Miami Open finals, following John Isner’s feat. Last year, Medvedev won against Sinner in the final held at the Hard Rock Stadium, home to the Miami Dolphins.
This time, Medvedev’s performance was below par, winning only three games, tying his lowest career victory tally in a match, and making 22 unforced errors. “I’m pleased with my performance this season — who wouldn’t be?” said Sinner. “As other players get to know me better, I need to stay prepared.”
The 22-year-old Sinner will face 11th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov in the final on Sunday. Dimitrov secured his spot by defeating fourth-seeded Alexander Zverev in the other semifinal, following his upset victory over top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
Sinner started his payback against Medvedev from last year’s Miami final by defeating him in the Australian Open final in January, marking a strong start to his 2024 campaign. Sinner has now beaten Medvedev in their last five encounters over the past year.
“This time, it was much easier compared to Australia,” said Sinner, referring to the scorching South Florida heat. “I got off to a great start, breaking Medvedev’s serve twice early on. It was a swift victory in just 69 minutes.”
In the other semifinal, Dimitrov’s triumph over Zverev was hard-fought, lasting two hours and 36 minutes. With enthusiastic fans chanting his name and Bulgarian flags flying high, Dimitrov showed remarkable resilience, securing back-to-back wins over top-5 opponents for only the second time in his career.
Dimitrov expressed his gratitude, emphasizing the significance of his journey and the collective effort of his team. “This victory marks a significant milestone for me,” Dimitrov said. “I’ve faced my challenges, but I’ve kept believing and working hard. It’s a remarkable achievement.”
Dimitrov has a mixed record against Sinner, having lost two out of three matches between them. Sinner, acknowledging his improved serve due to his increased strength, dominated the match against Medvedev, breaking his serve four times, serving seven aces, and winning 80% of his first serves.
