Jannik Sinner (world No.3) and Russian Daniil Medvedev (N.4), defending champion in Florida, will meet again on Friday in the semi-finals at the Masters 1000 in Miami, two months after their match in the final of the Australian Open , which had turned to the advantage of the Italian. Sinner qualified on the first Wednesday by beating the Czech Tomas Machac (N.60) 6-4, 6-2 in the quarter, before being joined by Medvedev, winner of the Chilean Nicolas Jarry (23rd in the world), also in two rounds 6-2, 7-6 (9/7).
The Russian also only took two sets to defeat the Chilean Nicolas Jarry, but in an opposite scenario since it was especially in the second set that the world number 4 had to fight, after a first set won easily 6-2 . Supported by the Latin American contingent in the stands, Jarry relied on his serve to push Medvedev into the deciding game, the two players going blow for blow.
Two sets would be “enough” this time…
At 6 points to 5, the 28-year-old Russian let a first match point slip through the net, before winning at the third attempt, 7-6 (9/7), in 1h 41 min in total. “I played at a good level in the first set, not great but enough to win it… Then he raised his level and there were long rallies, difficult points, and he also served better, yes, it didn’t matter much in the decisive game“, commented Medvedev.
Asked to talk about his reunion with Sinner, the Russian did not fail to point out that he had won the first two sets in Melbourne (before losing in five sets, editor’s note). “That would be enough in Miami“, quipped the Russian, who leads six victories to four against the young Italian. Before that, the quarter-finals end on Thursday, including the match of N.1 seed Carlos Alcaraz against Grigor Dimitrov (N. 11).