Sinner on Brink of Historic 'Sunshine Double' in Miami

Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner is just one victory away from becoming the first player since Roger Federer in 2017 to achieve the prestigious 'Sunshine Double', following his straight-sets win over Alexander Zverev that propelled him into the Miami Open final. Sinner, ranked second in the world, defeated his fourth-ranked opponent 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) and will now face Czech player Jiri Lehecka in the championship match on Sunday. Lehecka, seeded 21st, secured his spot in the final by dominating 28th seed Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-2 in just 75 minutes, marking his maiden appearance in a Masters 1000 final. With this win, Sinner extended his record-breaking streak to 32 consecutive sets won at the Masters 1000 level and is now poised to claim his second Miami Open title in three years. Having triumphed at Indian Wells on March 15, Sinner is eager to replicate his success in Miami. The 24-year-old was unable to defend his title in 2025 due to a three-month ban resulting from a positive test for a banned substance. In his match against Zverev, Sinner served 15 aces and successfully defended a break point while leading 4-3 in the second set, ultimately emerging victorious over the German for the seventh consecutive time. Sinner, who also defeated Zverev in the Indian Wells semi-finals, expressed his satisfaction with his performance, stating, 'My primary goal was to produce good tennis, and standing here in the final means a great deal to me. It's been an incredible run, and I couldn't be happier.' Sinner will be the overwhelming favorite in the final, given his 3-0 record against Lehecka, including their previous meeting at the 2025 French Open. However, Lehecka can draw inspiration from his dominant win over Fils and the fact that he has yet to drop serve in the tournament. He may also look to the previous year's Miami Open final, where his fellow Czech player Jakub Mensik upset Novak Djokovic in straight sets. Lehecka reflected on his win over Fils, saying, 'Today's match was great, and it's given me a lot of confidence heading into the final. I have to say it was one of the best matches I've played in my life.' He added, 'I really trusted my game and the work I've put in. I knew it would pay off eventually, and today was a great example of how I want to play.' Tennis legends Martina Navratilova and Tim Henman praised Lehecka's performance, with Navratilova noting, 'Lehecka looked like a veteran and played his best tennis under pressure. It was really impressive.' Henman added, 'Lehecka's level never dropped. I was waiting for him to make some loose shots, but it never happened. Fils was trying his best, but Lehecka was too good.' If Sinner emerges victorious, he will become the eighth player to achieve the 'Sunshine Double', joining the likes of Federer, Djokovic, Andre Agassi, Marcelo Rios, Pete Sampras, Michael Chang, and Jim Courier. The feat has been accomplished four times in women's tennis, most recently by Iga Swiatek in 2022. Aryna Sabalenka won this year's women's final by defeating Coco Gauff. The Miami Open will continue until March 29, with live coverage available on Sky Sports and contract-free streaming on NOW.