Jannik Sinner came under early pressure from 21-year-old American Alex Michelsen on Tuesday in Miami, but the Italian weathered every storm and even got help from the Miami Sun to keep the streak alive with a 7-5, 7-6 (4) victory. The win extended his streak of 1,000 sets at the Masters to 28.
It was clear from the start that Michelsen was intent on handing the match to Sinner, and the Southern Californian did just that by not giving up a break in the first ten games to take on the four-time Grand Slam champion.
Most consecutive winning sets, 1000 Masters matches
| player | stripe | start | ending |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jannik Sinner | 28 | 2025 Paris 3R | positive |
| Novak Djokovic | twenty four | 2016 Indian Wells 2R | 2016 Monte Carlo 2R |
| Carlos Alcaraz | twenty one | 2023 Indian Wells 2R | 2023 Miami San Francisco |
| Novak Djokovic | 19 | 2014 Paris 2R | 2015 Indian Wells Final |
| Andy Murray | 18 | 2016 Roma 2R | 2016 Cincinnati Finals |
| Jannik Sinner | 18 | 2024 Shanghai 3R | 2025 RomeSF |
But Sinner being Sinner, he held his ground and eventually fought back, winning a crucial break at 6-5 before holding serve to end the first set with ease.
Will this be the end of Michelsen?
Far from it.
The world No. 40 redoubled his efforts, breaking serve to lead 4-2 and holding on for a 5-2 victory in the second set. But Sinner battled back, holding his ground as the sun’s rays slanted into Hard Rock Stadium before breaking home to create tricky conditions for both players.
With the sun clearly bothering Michelsen, Sinner took control. He broke serve first and tied the score at 4-5, and then quickly equalized to tie the score at 5-all. The Italian then played inspired tennis in the tie-break, finishing the match in one hour and 41 minutes.
Sinner has now reached at least the quarterfinals in all five of Miami’s games and improved the tournament’s overall record to 23-3. He also extended his winning streak against the United States to 28 games, with his last loss coming to Ben Shelton in Shanghai in 2023.
“I felt like my serving helped me a lot today, especially in the big moments and in the tiebreak,” Sinner said on court. “At the same time, I know if I want to go far in this game, I have to improve in the backcourt.”
Sinner admitted the conditions were a challenge after playing under the lights the night before.
“It was a completely different situation than last night, so I’m happy with the way I fought. It was very close,” he said. “He’s a tough opponent, so I’m happy.”
Sinner will face Terrence Altman or Frances Tiafoe in the quarterfinals for a second Miami title and a chance to complete the Sunshine Double.
