Miami Masters 2026: Sinner, on board: Miami rises, completes the double and compromises the Alcaraz throne | Tennis | Sports

In fits and starts, under the still condition of rain for a tournament of the Miami Masters 1000 entity, the champion seals the victory against the Czech Jiri Lehecka (double 6-4, in 1h 33m) and reaffirms himself: this tour is entirely his. Jannik Sinner takes off his cap and then he looks like someone else, tossing those red curls and drawing an unimaginable smile on the dance floor; In there, he simply competes. That presence is scary. Too many arguments in its favor. Once his tennis warms up, the Italian clears rivals like someone who dispatches flies and discounts rounds until achieving achievements like this last one, highlighted: the American double is already in his hands.

As the number one, Aryna Sabalenka, did the day before, the one from San Candido earns a place in a special place, along with the seven men – 13 tennis players in total, adding to the five women on the list – who had already managed to conquer Indian Wells (California) and Miami (Florida) in a chain. He was preceded by Jim Courier (1991), Michael Chang (1992), Pete Sampras (1994), Marcelo Ríos (1998), Andre Agassi (2001), Novak Djokovic (2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016) and Roger Federer (2005, 2006 and 2017), until now the last chosen. Sinner now rises, a granite competitor who does not rest even while he sleeps. He insists and insists on that indelible purpose of perfecting himself.

The rain surrounds his success, after an outcome divided by water, although in reality it began to clear for him just a week ago, when Carlos Alcaraz lost in the second round of the tournament. Always looking at each other from the corner of his eye, the transalpine knew that same day that, if he didn’t skate (and he doesn’t usually), he had half a trophy in his pocket; Now, not the slightest sign of relaxation, but quite the opposite; For him, a Stakhanovite by race, there is always work to do. In the end, six more indisputable victories—Lehecka detects no cracks—and another immaculate layout. Winner without conceding any set. Again. For third thousand continued.

He opened the series in November (Paris Masters) and since then he has added 34 consecutive sets. He follows in the footsteps of Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – three Masters 1000 titles in a row, both in 2010 and 2019/20 respectively – and aligns himself with Michael Chang and Alexander Zverev, also with seven titles in the category. This is the second in Miami, where water once again becomes the protagonist in the absence of a roof. The tournament began with pouring rain – the first day was cancelled, in its entirety – and it closed accordingly, with the tennis players waiting and waiting for the clouds. Scheduled at 3:00 p.m. local time, the final will finally begin at 4:30 p.m.

26 trophies per head

Miami’s seams are showing again. Admired until 2019, when the move from Key Biscayne to Hardrock Stadium, home of the Dolphins, was formalized, the tournament has led to disappointment and improvisation. The plant has been assembled in an artificial way, embedded like a meccano inside the stadium, and at this point it is still at the mercy of the changing climate of South Florida. So to the initial delay the subsequent stoppage will be added later, after 51 minutes of play; It will take an hour and a half. By then, Sinner has already taken the first set and has broken Lehecka’s serve twice, who until now had never lost it; 55 turns with success.

The transalpine, however, only needs a breath to achieve it and, from there, he displays all his artillery. High ball to prevent the Czech’s favorite hit and characteristic depth; the sharp serve of the present—neutralizes a 0-40 as soon as he has obtained the first break— and rhythm, always rhythm; Impossible to bear it, the vast majority of the time. At the moment it reaches the boiling point, stopping it is heroic. As he gains intensity and maintains it, his hitting cadence is reminiscent of the pedal strokes of Indurain himself. Abrasive tennis. Strangle. Lehecka tries to scratch something in the continuation, but there is no way. The redhead finishes it with 10 aceslosing only three points with his first serves (92%) and with 21 winners.

In this way, Sinner celebrates again and has 26 titles, the same as Alcaraz. One and the other have alternated as number one since Novak Djokovic ended his last reign, in June 2024. From there, 65 successive weeks for the Italian at the top and then, two months of command for the Spaniard, who then lost it sporadically – just one week, in the transition to the last Masters Cup – and regained it immediately in Turin. From there, two displays of authority in Australia and Doha, but the subsequent success of the rival on North American soil has compressed the dispute again. Now, the margin is 1,190 points (13,590 versus 12,400).

Sinner was suspended in 2025 for three months – after an initial two-year request – following the positive test for clostebol the previous season. Finally, the tennis player reached an agreement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), which did not interpret the intention of doping, so the punishment was reduced to the period between February and May. Now, the interval has become a golden opportunity to assault the throne; so much so that he could take it from Alcaraz directly in Monte Carlo, if he wins there. To the Spaniard’s challenge in Melbourne and Qatar he has reacted with a double reply that places him once again in exceptional status. Sunshine Double for him, the man threatens. It is, once again, Jannik Sinner on board.