The Italian took out the Spaniard in an outstanding three-setter game in Florida. He will find Medvedev, who defeated his compatriot Kachanov, in the final.
Sensation in Miami: Carlos Alcaraz lost his title and his place as world No.1 on Friday, beaten, after an exceptional showdown, by Jannik Sinner, who will then face Daniil Medvedev, for whom this will be the fifth final of in a row in two months.
As of Monday, the Serbian Novak Djokovic, deprived of the spring games in the United States, because not vaccinated against the Covid, will thus go back to the throne from which the Spaniard had dislodged him two weeks earlier. imposing in Indian Wells. Because to stay there, the latter had to pass the “Sunshine Double“.
However, he who seemed to evolve on another planet since his victorious march in California, by precisely dismissing Sinner in the half and Medvedev in the final, each time bluntly, ended up being brought back to earth. He gave up 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-2, after a very intense three-hour fight, which physically damaged him in a third set where he suffered from cramps.
Read also“I play better when I’m calm”: meeting with Jannik Sinner, the announced rival of Carlos Alcaraz
“I saw that he was struggling for a few games and I tried to put pressure on him. We both played very aggressive tennis, at a very high level, and today (the victory) fell on my side. It obviously means a lot“Commented the 11th in the world, who was also revengeful since their Homeric duel, in the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows last year, which had turned in favor of Alcaraz after 5:15 of fight.
Breathtaking rally
By dint of fencing in the stratosphere, these Alcaraz-Sinners will quickly become classics, knowing that given their age, 19 years old for the Spaniard, 21 years old for the Italian, their budding rivalry promises great times.
This new chapter, which allows Sinner to equalize at 3-3 in their heads-up, was of such a level, that the first set was probably the best we have seen on a tennis court. This year.
If we only have to keep one point, it would be this breathtaking rally, long 24 shots exchanged during which the aggressor became the attacked almost in turn, the Italian having had the last word, thanks to a half-volley cross-passing of remarkable finesse. He was leading 4-2 at the time, but that didn’t stop him from giving up the first set in the deciding game, as Alcaraz was more solid in the key points.
Sinner did not seem affected: sharper than ever, he was able to equalize to a set everywhere. Whereupon, his rival took a break from the locker room, preamble to a very complicated third round on the physical level, since his mobility was not what we know him to be.
“I started having cramps, but that’s not the reason why I lost the match (…) Jannik was better than me in the last set. It’s the truth“, he assured.
Kvitova challenges Rybakina
Sinner, finalist in 2021 in Miami, will try to do better on Sunday against Medvedev (5th), who had to be solid, constant and patient, to dismiss 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-3 his compatriot Karen Khachanov (16th). His 23rd victory in his last 24 matches.
However the Russian, in search of a fourth title, after Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai in February, has a psychological advantage, since he won their first five confrontations.
“I believe in myself. I know that I am capable of winning big titles. I know I can play well and beat anyone“, proclaimed the winner of the US Open 2021.
Among the women, Petra Kvitova (12th) also reached the final, after her victory 7-5, 6-4 at the expense of Sorana Cirstea (74th).
The 32-year-old Romanian, however, got off to a better start, as she led 5-2. She will be able to harbor even more regrets for not having then materialized her two set points at 5-3, because the Czech was able to reverse the situation by winning the next four games.
In the process, Kvitova broke her rival from the start, maintaining this advantage until the end, to conclude in 1h41.
She will try to win a 9th WTA 1000 title, five years after the last won in Madrid. But she will have a hard time dealing with Rybakina, in search of the “Sunshine Double» a double achieved the same year by four players so far: Steffi Graf twice, Kim Clijsters, Victoria Azarenka and Iga Swiatek. “I will fight like hell“Nevertheless warned Kvitova.
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