match response
Hard Rock Five Star QF Live Sinner: “Miami has been good to me”
The Italian will face local favorite Tiafoe at the ATP Masters 1000 on Thursday
March 25, 2026
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Jannik Sinner defeated Alex Michelsen in the fourth round on Tuesday in Miami.
Written by ATP Staff
Jannik Sinner has made a habit of hanging out after the Miami Open hosted by Itau.
The 24-year-old has compiled a 22-3 record at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Florida since reaching the championship match in his first appearance in 2021, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Sinner beat Alex Michelsen 7-5, 7-6(4) on Tuesday to book a spot in the quarterfinals and become the third player to reach the quarterfinals in his first five games in Miami, joining Yannick Noah and Stefan Edberg.
“It’s hard to say,” Sinner, the 2024 titleholder, said at the postgame press conference, where he was asked why he has thrived in Miami over the years. “Earlier, when I played here, I also played a little bit on the outdoor courts. The conditions outside are very different. There can be a lot of breeze and wind at times. Playing here [in the stadium] Slightly easier because it’s a little bit in the way.
“The ball has a really low bounce, which usually helps me. This year, for some reason, I’m finding it a little more difficult. I’m also trying to enjoy everything around me, off the court. Miami has been really good to me the past few years.”
Sinner kept his cool as Michelsen served at 5-3 in the second set on Tuesday at Hard Rock Stadium, typical of the Italian, who raised his game in the ensuing tie-break to seal victory in straight sets and extend his winning streak at the Masters 1000 level to 28 matches. Sinner has won 15 tiebreaks in his last 16 tournament matches, dating back to his Wimbledon triumph. Ran last July.
“I’m a guy who likes to play tie-breaks, or 4-4, 5-5,” Sinner said when asked about his consistently strong performance in pressure moments. “I try to improve my game in the most important moments and that definitely helped me today… I’m happy to win today.
“I try to return as much as possible [at 3-5]. I have also held positions where I was required to serve. The serve is always a little different. You can feel the pressure. This works for everyone and it works for me when I need to serve. And, sometimes you can miss the ball and if he had won that game, things would have been different. Obviously, you start the third set 0-0 again and you need to start over. From a physical point of view, today was good for me, being able to finish two sets. ”
The No. 2 player in the PIF ATP rankings, Sinner will try to reach the Miami semifinals for the fourth time on Thursday against another home favorite. He will take a 4-1 lead into the quarter-finals of the Lexus ATP Head-to-Head Series against 19th seed Frances Tiafoe.
