Sinner Sees Off Lehecka To Complete Sunshine Double Without Dropping A Set

Jiri Lehecka entered his first Masters 1000 last astatine nan Miami Open successful nan champion serving shape of his life. He had won each work crippled successful nan tournament, a feat achieved by conscionable 8 men astatine this level earlier him. The easiness pinch which he brushed speech each 9 break points against him reflected his confidence.

It took 2 return games for Jannik Sinner to viciously resistance nan Czech backmost down to earth. Ten minutes in, Sinner had already surgery Lehecka’s unbreakable serve. As has usually been nan lawsuit complete nan past fewer years, Sinner burst into nan lead and refused to fto it go.

In a lucifer many times delayed by irritating rain, it took Sinner immoderate clip to scope his intended destination, but nan Italian yet secured 1 of nan top achievements of his progressively legendary career, defeating nan 21st seed 6-4, 6-4 to triumph nan Miami Open title.

This is simply a historical victory. Sinner is conscionable nan eighth antheral subordinate to triumph Indian Wells and Miami, besides known arsenic nan Sunshine Double. Sinner, nan world No 2, has now won 34 consecutive sets astatine Masters level, making love backmost to his triumph successful Paris successful November. He is conscionable nan 3rd man down Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal to triumph 3 consecutive Masters events and nan first to do truthful without dropping a group successful each of those 3 triumphs.

A time aft Aryna Sabalenka, nan women’s No 1, followed up her ain Indian Wells title by winning successful Miami, this is besides nan 4th clip successful history that a antheral and female subordinate person completed nan Sunshine Double successful nan aforesaid year.

Jannik Sinner walks disconnected tribunal arsenic play is stopped owed to rain. Photograph: Cristóbal Herrera/EPA

The past fewer weeks person been nan top of Lehecka’s career. His expertise to onslaught nan shot pinch specified devastating gait and cleanable timing has been evident for years, but it was not until Miami that things began to travel together. He reached nan last pinch a triumph complete nan sixth seed, Taylor Fritz, and an imperious dismantling of Arthur Fils successful nan semi-final.

However, nary matter really good his opponents whitethorn beryllium playing, Sinner represents specified an tremendous measurement up successful value compared to nan remainder of nan field. Lehecka already learned this nan difficult way. In their astir caller meeting, a third-round lucifer astatine nan French Open past year, Sinner humiliated nan Czech, starring 6-0, 5-0 before winning 6-0, 6-1, 6-2.

This was a amended showing from Lehecka. After dropping service early, he recovered his hit down his tremendous service and forehand, limiting Sinner’s opportunities until heavy successful group two. He generated 1 half-chance of his ain while starring 4-3, 0-30 connected Sinner’s service successful group two. However, successful summation to his nuclear-grade groundstrokes, his movement, return of service and innate toughness, Sinner is successful immoderate of nan champion serving shape of his life. Every clip nan Czech generated a half chance, Sinner’s service instantly unopen it down.

Jiri Lehecka struggled to put Jannik Sinner nether pressure. Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Sinner’s ascendant March feels moreover much noteworthy considering really he started nan year. His five-set Australian Open semi-final loss to Djokovic, was acold from perfect and he followed it up pinch 1 of his poorest performances of nan past fewer years, losing successful 3 sets to Jakub Menšík. But Sinner is not a robot, contempt really immoderate of his opponents picture him, and nan play is long. It comes arsenic nary astonishment astatine each that he has quickly recovered his rhythm.

With this result, nan title for nan ATP No 1 is on. Sinner received a three-month doping suspension past year, meaning he has had zero points to take sides successful February, March and April. These fantabulous caller performances spot him astir 1500 points down Carlos Alcaraz.

Alcaraz and Sinner person continued their duopoly astatine nan opening of nan season: nan world No 1 winning successful Australia and Qatar, and Sinner taking nan Indian Wells and Miami Open titles. However, possibly nan biggest upset of nan twelvemonth is 3 months into nan caller play they still person not faced each other.