MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jannik Sinner’s sturdy 2024 continued Sunday as he gained the Miami Open with a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Eleventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov.
In a flawless show on a 79-degree afternoon, Sinner, the 2024 Australian Open champion, moved to 22-1 on the 12 months in profitable the Miami Open for the primary time. Sinner had been runner-up twice in 2021 and 2023, shedding final 12 months to Daniil Medvedev.
The 22-year-old Sinner performed with an abundance of confidence regardless of the gang cheering on the underdog from Bulgaria. Sinner ended it in 1 hour, 13 minutes with a backhand winner.
Sinner dropped simply seven video games mixed within the semifinal and ultimate.
“This was my third time within the ultimate and I figured this could be the fortunate one,″ Sinner stated. “I am actually joyful I can maintain the massive trophy.″
Chants of “Gri-gor” resounded the complete match inside the house stadium of the NFL’s Miami Dolphins. Dimitrov had created a buzz this week with upsets of prime seed Carlos Alcaraz within the quarterfinals and No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev within the semifinals.
“I felt like a rock star nowadays,” Dimitrov stated.
Dimitrov, 10 years older than Sinner at 32, will climb into the highest 10 rankings for the primary time since 2018.
“Sadly, 10 years made an enormous distinction at present,” Dimitrov stated. “Clearly it is Jannik’s week. He is been taking part in superb tennis.”
Sinner additionally hit a milestone, transferring from No. 3 to 2 — the best rating of his younger profession and in Italian historical past.
“It means so much to me,” Sinner stated. “Extra importantly it was an incredible efficiency for me. Being No. 2 is an incredible feeling and by no means considered at this level. I come from a really regular household and my dad continues to be working and my mother, too.”
Sinner, who was by no means damaged and confronted only one break level, was undeterred by the pro-Dimitrov crowd and may very well be an early favourite for the upcoming French Open.
The lads’s tour swings in April to the clay-court season in Europe completed off by the French at Roland Garros starting Might 20.
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“The clay-court season is coming and normally I battle there,” Sinner stated. “Let’s have a look at what I can do that 12 months. You do not have a lot time. We begin follow and never even one week to get used to the clay.”
Sinner gained his first main on the Australian Open, then captured the title in Rotterdam. His solely loss in 2024 was within the Indian Wells ultimate to Alcaraz.
Dimitrov gained the primary eight factors on his serve, holding at love in every sport. Then the Bulgarian bought damaged at 2-2 when he tried to get too fancy.
Amid a protracted rally, Dimitrov hit a drop shot into the web. Thereafter, he superior to the web twice solely to get crushed by two deft passing pictures by Sinner. Whereas Dimitrov has a good web sport, Sinner is maybe the most effective passer in tennis.
“He is the participant that is a front-runner,” Dimitrov stated. “If he is up a break, I feel his confidence kicks in even a little bit bit extra. I feel he is one velocity of sport proper now.”
His possibilities within the second set have been worn out when he bought damaged at 2-1. Sinner saved the ball deep on the ultimate two rallies of the sport and Dimitrov flubbed pictures into the web. At 4-1, Dimitrov bought damaged once more when he flubbed a straightforward volley lengthy.
Darren Cahill, Sinner’s coach of two years and a former tour participant and an ESPN analyst, stated afterward he is added “little issues” to Sinner’s sport and “a perception.”
