Jannik Sinner overcame an inspired Alexander Bublik 7-6(5), 6-4 on Wednesday to reach his maiden ATP Masters 1000 semi-final at the Miami Open presented by Itau.
The #NextGenATP Italian was on the receiving end of underarm serves, a 105mph forehand return, and a sneak attack return, but he held his composure and found his best tennis under pressure to advance in one hour and 41 minutes. In a match dominated by rallies of under five shots (Sinner 53-51), Sinner made the crucial difference with 28 forehand winners.
Sinner is the eighth teenager to reach the Miami semi-finals in the tournament’s 36-year history. Of the seven other players to achieve the feat, five have reached No. 1 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.
Teenage Miami Semi-finalists
| Player | Age | Year | Result | Career-High Ranking |
| Felix Auger-Aliassime | 18 | 2019 | SF | No. 17 |
| Rafael Nadal | 18 | 2005 | F | No. 1 |
| Lleyton Hewitt | 19 | 2000 | SF | No. 1 |
| Jannik Sinner | 19 | 2021 | ? | No. 31 |
| Novak Djokovic | 19 | 2007 | Champion | No. 1 |
| Andy Murray | 19 | 2007 | SF | No. 1 |
| Andre Agassi | 19 | 1990 | Champion | No. 1 |
| Denis Shapovalov | 19 | 2019 | SF | No. 10 |
Sinner has also made Italian history by reaching the final four in Miami. He is only the second player from his nation — following 2017 semi-finalist Fabio Fognini — to reach this stage of the tournament.
In a thrilling first set, Bublik kept Sinner off balance with powerful returns and unpredictable shot selections. The 32nd seed led by a break and established a 4/1 lead in the tie-break, but Sinner kept his composure and found his forehand when he needed it most. Sinner ripped three forehand winners and, when Bublik closed the net, he found his targets to take the opener.
Sinner recovered from 0-3 down in the second set to record his second win of the month against Bublik (Dubai). The Great Ocean Road Open champion returned with pinpoint accuracy to strike winners and put Bublik in uncomfortable positions at the net. Sinner clinched victory with his 36th winner of the match, an inside-out forehand.
Sinner will face top seed Daniil Medvedev or Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the championship match. The 21st seed has lost both his previous ATP Head2Head encounters against Medvedev, but he won his only previous match against Bautista Agut earlier this month in Dubai.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/3wj0hlQ
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