Jannik Sinner is one win away from becoming the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete tennis’ ‘Sunshine Double’ after a straight-sets victory over Alexander Zverev took the Italian into the Miami Open final.
The world No 2 beat the world No 4 6-3 7-6 (7-4) and will face Jiri Lehecka in Sunday’s showpiece after the Czech 21st seed beat 28th seed Arthur Fils 6-2 6-2 in 75 minutes to reach his maiden Masters 1000 final.
Sinner – who has now won a record 32 straight sets at Masters 1000 level – triumphed in Indian Wells on March 15 and is eyeing a second Miami Open title in three years.
The 24-year-old was unable to defend the trophy in Florida in 2025 as the tournament fell during his three-month ban after testing positive for a banned substance
Against Zverev on Friday, Sinner served 15 aces and fended off a break point while down 4-3 in the second set when he beat the German for the seventh time in a row.
Sinner, who also defeated Zverev in the Indian Wells semi-finals earlier this month, said afterwards: “To come here and try to produce some good tennis was my main goal.
“Standing here again in the final means a lot to me. It’s been an incredible swing and I couldn’t be better. I’m very happy.”
Zverev has now lost his last seven matches against Sinner, including in the semi-finals at Indian Wells earlier this month
Another consecutive Czech winner in Miami?
Sinner will be overwhelming favorite against Lehecka, a player he owns a 3-0 record against after defeating him in their previous meeting at the 2025 French Open.
However, Lehecka – who would rise to a career-high No.12 in the rankings if he wins the title – can take inspiration from the way he tore apart Fils and the fact that he is yet to lose serve in the tournament.
He can also look to last year’s Miami Open final, when fellow Czech Jakub Mensik upset Novak Djokovic in straight sets.
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Highlights as Jiri Lehecka dismantled Arthur Fils to reach his maiden Masters 1000 final
Lehecka said after routing Fils: “Today was a great match. It definitely brought me a lot of confidence going into Sunday’s final. I have to say it was one of the better matches I played in my life.”
“I really trusted my game and the work I put in. It didn’t matter when, but I knew it was coming and today was a good example of how I want to play.”
Sinner would become the eighth man to achieve the ‘Sunshine Double’ to win Indian Wells and Miami in the same season, following Federer (three times), Djokovic (four times), Andre Agassi, Marcelo Rios, Pete Sampras, Michael Chang and Jim Courier.
The feat has been accomplished four times in women’s tennis, most recently by Iga Swiatek in 2022.
Aryna Sabalenka will play Coco Gauff in this year’s women’s final, live on Sky Sports from 19:00 on Saturday.
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