MIAMI GARDENS, Florida — Daniil Medvedev of Russia captured his fourth ATP title of the year, beating Jannik Sinner of Italy 7-5, 6-3 for the Miami Open men’s singles title and to move to 6-0 in their career matchup.
The win marked the Russian’s fourth trophy and fifth final in as many tournaments after losing to ATP number one-ranked Carlos Alcaraz two weeks ago at Indian Wells.
Medvedev is now the most sizzling player on the men´s tour, winning 24 of his last 25 matches after his 1-hour, 34-minute triumph.
“It’s the best start of the season I have ever had. Amazing amount of points won,” said Medvedev, who now enjoys a 600 point lead over Novak Djokovic in the calendar-year ATP Live Race to Turin.
“I think 2019 was great also with six finals and it was also new for me in 2019. So I think it’s kind of the same,” he also said.
Speaking in his post-match press-conference, the self-defined hard-court specialist explained why he is so comfortable on the surface.
“Generally I love hard courts. I love playing on it. If it would be my choice, it would be only hard courts, but I completely understand that that’s not fair, if we can say like this,” Medvedev explained.
“I feel the best at my game on hard courts. Even if I know that I can play well enough on the grass and clay, on hard courts I feel the most fluid. On hard courts I can play not my best tennis but still win the matches. That’s a big difference,” Medvedev added.
Sinner ran out of magic, with his three-hour win over Alcaraz in the semi-finals – when he had mild cramping in the second set – looking to have taken a toll on the 21-year-old Italian.
“Woke up this morning not at my best – a little bit sick,” Sinner said during the post-match ceremony, acknowledging that the crowd was behind him.
“Thanks for the support. You gave me a lot of energy. Unfortunately, I couldn´t play at my best.”
Serving 5-6 in the first set, Sinner didn´t have any dazzle left and played a ragged game as Medvedev broke him to close out the first set.
While Medvedev has won titles this year in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai, this is the Russian´s first title on American soil since the 2021 U.S. Open, when he derailed Novak Djokovic´s bid for a Grand Slam.
Before a crowd that included a handful of celebrities, including Jon Bon Jovi, Medvedev won the first 12 points on his serve.
The Russian won his first two service games at love and got up 30-0 in his third one before Sinner started to feel his way back into the match. Sinner rallied to break Medvedev, needing five break points to pull it off.
Medvedev came up with service winners to stave off the first three break points, then hit a backhand winner to survive the fourth. Sinner stayed relentless and finally broke him with a deft forehand volley winner.
Medvedev showed his mettle by breaking Sinner right back to even the first set at 3-3. On break point, Medvedev won a 20-stroke rally as Sinner´s forehand clipped the netcord and bounced in the doubles alley.
Then Medvedev broke Sinner at 6-5 and twice broke Sinner´s serve in the second set.
