Jannik Sinner’s sturdy begin to 2024 continues, the Australian Open champion cruising to the Miami Open title with a 6-3 6-1 victory over eleventh seed Grigor Dimitrov.
In a all-but-flawless show, Sinner moved to 22-1 for the yr as he gained the Miami Open for the primary time. He had been runner-up in 2021 and 2023.
In his second successive Miami Open closing – he 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.
“This was my third time in the final and I figured this would be the lucky one,” Sinner said.
“I’m actually comfortable I can maintain the massive trophy.”
Dimitrov had created a buzz this week with upsets of prime seed Carlos Alcaraz within the quarter-finals and the third-ranked Alexander Zverev within the final 4.
But the in-form Sinner ended Sunday’s contest after an hour and 13 minutes with a backhand winner. He was by no means damaged and confronted only one break level.
Sinner gained his first main on the Australian Open in January, adopted up by capturing the title in Rotterdam and was a finalist within the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
His solely loss in 2024 was to Alcaraz within the Indian Wells closing.
Dimitrov, 10 years older than Sinner at 32, will vault into the highest 10 rankings for the primary time since 2018 on account of his Miami run, whereas Sinner will transfer to No.2 – the very best rating of his younger profession.
“Unfortunately, 10 years made a huge difference today,” Dimitrov stated.
“Clearly it’s Jannik’s week. He’s been playing amazing tennis.”
Dimitrov gained the primary eight factors on his serve, holding to like in every recreation. But the Bulgarian was damaged at 2-2 when he tried to get too fancy.
After an extended rally, Dimitrov hit a drop shot into the web. Thereafter, he superior to the web twice – solely to get overwhelmed by two deft passing photographs from Sinner.
At 3-5, Dimitrov was damaged once more with Sinner at his greatest. The Italian arrange a double-set level with an inside-out forehand return that clipped the far sideline for a winner.
Dimitrov saved the primary set level earlier than Sinner closed it out with one other passing shot – a backhand down the road.
“He’s the player that’s a front-runner,” Dimitrov stated.
“If he’s up a break, his confidence kicks in even a little bit more. He’s one speed of game right now.”
The Bulgarian’s probabilities within the second set have been worn out when he was damaged at 2-1. At 4-1, Dimitrov was damaged once more when he hit a simple volley lengthy.
Victory, and his imminent rise to world No.2, rounded off a formidable first three months of the yr from Sinner.
“It means quite a bit to me,” he stated.
“More importantly it was an ideal efficiency for me. Being No.2 is an incredible feeling and I by no means thought (I’d attain) this level.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
