MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Jannik Sinner’s sturdy 2024 continued as he gained the Miami Open with 6-3, 6-1 victory over eleventh seed Grigor Dimitrov on Sunday.
In a flawless show on a 79-degree afternoon, Sinner, the 2024 Australian Open champion, moved to 22-1 on the yr in successful the Miami Open for the primary time. Sinner had been runner-up twice in 2021 and 2023.
In his second straight Miami Open finals look (Sinner misplaced final yr to Daniil Medvedev), the 22-year-old performed with an abundance of confidence regardless of the group 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 semifinals and finals.
“This was my third time within the remaining and I figured this could be the fortunate one,″ Sinner stated. “I’m actually joyful I can maintain the large trophy.″
Chants of “Gri-gor’’ resounded your entire 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 lately,’’ 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’s Jannik’s week. He’s been enjoying wonderful tennis.”
Sinner additionally hit a milestone, shifting from No. 3 to 2 — highest rating of his younger profession and in Italian historical past.
“It means quite a bit to me,’’ Sinner stated. “Extra importantly it was a fantastic efficiency for me. Being No. 2 is a tremendous feeling and by no means considered at this level. I come from a really regular household and my dad remains 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 might be an early favourite for the upcoming French Open.
The boys’s tour swings in April to the clay-court season in Europe completed off by the French at Roland Garros which begins on Could 20.
“The clay-court season is coming and normally I battle there,” Sinner stated. “Let’s see what I can do that yr. You don’t 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 Rotterdam, and was a finalist in Indian Wells. His solely loss in 2024 was within the Indian Wells remaining to Alcaraz.
Dimitrov gained the primary eight factors on his serve, holding at love in every recreation. Then the Bulgarian acquired damaged at 2-2 when he tried to get too fancy.
Amidst an extended rally, Dimitrov hit a drop shot into the web. Thereafter, he superior to the web twice solely to get crushed by two deft passing photographs by Sinner. Whereas Dimitrov has an honest internet recreation, Sinner is probably the very best passer in tennis.
“He’s the participant that’s a front-runner,” Dimitrov stated. “If he’s up a break, I believe his confidence kicks in even somewhat bit extra. I believe he’s one velocity of recreation proper now.”
His probabilities within the second set have been worn out when he acquired damaged at 2-1. Sinner saved the ball deep on the ultimate two rallies of the sport and Dimitrov flubbed photographs into the web. At 4-1, Dimitrov acquired 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’s added “little issues’’ to Sinner’s recreation and “a perception.’’
The American girls made a clear sweep. On Saturday, Danielle Collins gained the ladies’s singles title. In girls’s doubles Sunday, People Sofia Kenin and Bethanie Mattek-Sands rallied from a set all the way down to prime Gabriela Dabrowski (Canada) and Erin Routliffe (New Zealand) 4-6, 7-6 (5), 11-9 in a third-set match tiebreaker.
The American males didn’t fare nicely in Miami with out anybody advancing in singles to the spherical of 16.
