World number three Jannik Sinner will face defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the Miami Open, a rematch of last year’s final, after both won their quarter-final matches this Wednesday (27). The match is scheduled for 2pm (Brasília time) this Friday (29).
Sinner, the second seed, comfortably defeated Czech Tomáš Machac 6-4 6-2. The Italian arrives solid in his semi-final match against Medvedev, who beat Chile’s Nicolas Jarry 6-2, 7-6 (9-7) later in the day.
The Italian, who won his first Grand Slam at the Australian Open, qualified for his fourth semi-final of the season after defeating Machac in just an hour and a half.
In front of a passionate crowd, Sinner played a brilliant defensive game that was too much for his opponent, who fought hard. The Italian’s break, to take a 4-3 lead, tipped the balance in the first set.
The second set was easier for Sinner who, with a break in the third game, gained even more morale to beat the Czech.
Check out the Miami Open men’s draw
Sinner’s Triumph Numbers
Flashscore
Despite the result, Sinner said Machac deserved applause for his energetic and aggressive performance.
“He is incredibly talented. He is extremely fast and is in great physical shape,” said the ATP number three.
The 22-year-old Italian thought he played “well, especially in the important moments of the match”.
For Sinner, this explains how a high-level and very challenging match ended in straight sets.
Sinner is the second seed in the tournament
AFP
Medvedev fulfills his mission
Medvedev had a hard time beating Jarry. The Russian won the first set without much effort against a hesitant Jarry.
In the second set, however, the story was different: the Chilean, supported by a Latin American crowd, found his serve and fought.
Both went into the tie-break with a dynamic game full of flashy plays.
The defending champion missed a chance to win the match when the net prevented him from converting a point at 6-5. The error did not prevent the Russian from taking the tiebreak in a tight 9-7.
Medvedev had more work to do in the second set
AFP
“In the first set I felt like I was playing at a good level, but nothing extra and it was enough to win, so I was happy,” Medvedev said before acknowledging that his opponent played “much better” in the second set.
Medvedev seemed to enjoy the atmosphere created by the Chilean fans. “To be honest, I was ready for it and expected something worse,” with more fans backing the South American.
Waiting for him in the semifinals will be Sinner, who “is playing better and better.”
“It’s a big challenge for me to keep improving my game” to beat the Italian, he added.
Medvedev’s victory numbers
Flashscore
Collins x Alexandrova: a surprising semi-final
At WTA 1000, American Danielle Collins booked her ticket to the semi-finals with a convincing 6-3, 6-2 victory over Caroline Garcia of France.
The Frenchwoman was coming off a surprising elimination of local favorite and title favorite Coco Gauff, but was unable to maintain her level against the Florida athlete. Not even the treatment he received in the second set was enough to improve his performance.
Check out the Miami Open women’s draw
“Against someone like Carol, I have to be more focused,” said Collins, who has a four-match unbeaten run against the Frenchwoman, ranked 27th in the rankings.
In the semifinals, Collins will face Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova (ranked 14th), who qualified thanks to a narrow victory over local Jessica Pegula.
The Russian defeated the fifth seed 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 in almost two hours of play.
In a difficult match, the Russian – who defeated world number one Iga Swiatek in the previous round – overcame a Pegula winner in the first set and, with a display of physical and mental strength, took victory.
