Alexander Zverev also missed his first final of the year at the ATP Masters in Miami. As has often been the case recently, Jannik Sinner was one size too big for the German tennis ace at 3:6, 6:7 (4:7).
At the Masters in Indian Wells, the Italian had already clearly won the direct duel in the semi-finals (6:4, 6:2), overall it was Zverev’s seventh defeat in a row against the world number two. The 28-year-old lost two finals during this misery – last year at the Australian Open and at the ATP tournament in Vienna – and in Miami it was the fourth semi-final in which Sinner stopped him. In the last four matches, Zverev even failed to win a set.
An overhead ball seals Zverev’s defeat
But on Saturday night the German, who will be number three in the world rankings again from Monday and displaces Novak Djokovic, was very close. When the score was 4:4 in the tie break of the second set, Zverev, who again played much more offensively than in the past, had a great chance to present, but hit a smash into the net and then lost the last two points of the game.
Alexander Zverev in the semifinals of the Miami Open
“The second set could have gone either way. I had the feeling that I was really dominant from the baseline. The overhead ball was extremely unfortunate and that decided the tie break.”said Zverev. “I lost sight of the ball a little and then had the wrong timing.” It was his third semi-final exit of the year, and he had already failed in the second round in Acapulco.
Sinner with 16 “2-0 wins” in a row
Meanwhile, Sinner not only remains Zverev’s feared opponent, he also continued an impressive series at the 1000 Masters tournaments. The 24-year-old has now won 32 sets in a row there, after the victories in Paris (November 2025) and most recently in Indian Wells, he seems unbeatable in Miami too. In the final, Jiri Lehecka (Czech Republic) will try out, who will play his first Masters final after beating Arthur Fils (France) 6:2, 6:2.
“Sascha is a great player, it was a tough match. He played incredibly well, but I served very well in the end, especially in the crucial moments”said Sinner about his semi-final win against Zverev. “It means a lot to me to be here in the final again, it couldn’t have gone better.” The South Tyrolean can become the first tennis player since Roger Ferderer in 2017 to win the “Sunshine Double” (Victory in Indian Wells and Miami) creates.
