Jannik Sinner was quick to apologize to Alex Michelsen after accidentally striking him during a rally in their fourth-round clash at the Miami Open. Interestingly, the moment stood in stark contrast to a key piece of advice Sinner had offered the American youngster nearly two years ago.
Jannik Sinner Contradicts Past Advice in Apology to Alex Michelsen
Sinner is progressing steadily at the Miami Open and looks determined to complete the Sunshine Double, having already won the BNP Paribas Open earlier this month. He edged past Michelsen in what proved to be a tough contest to reach the quarterfinals.
Sinner was dominant on his serve, capturing 90% of points behind his first serve (38/42) en route to a 7-5, 7-6 (4) win. The Italian also showed resilience, clawing back from 2-5 in the second set to seal the 1-hour, 42-minute contest and extend his record streak of consecutive sets won at Masters 1000 events to 28.
The world No. 2 also extended his dominance over American opponents, stretching his winning streak against them to 28 matches, a run that dates back to his defeat against Ben Shelton in Shanghai in 2023. He also became the third man to reach the quarterfinals in his first five appearances at the event, alongside Yannick Noah and Stefan Edberg.
Beyond the string of records, Sinner also drew attention for a brief moment of sportsmanship. During a rally, his forehand struck Michelsen near the net and ricocheted off him. Sinner immediately gestured in apology, with the American responding with a smile.
Jannik Sinner apologising to Michelsen for almost hitting him and Michelsen smiling 😠pic.twitter.com/K0tSTULaAJ
— jannik sinner files (@jannik_files) March 24, 2026
It is worth noting that Sinner’s action contradicted a major piece of advice he gave to the rising American talent nearly two years ago. In an interview with the ATP in 2024, Michelsen recalled how Sinner told him not to apologize excessively during matches, encouraging him to play aggressively, while also praising his friendly and supportive nature.
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“I was seeing him every day in the locker room,” Sinner said in an interview with ATP in 2024. “And we chatted up. He actually told me I was saying sorry too much, because I tried to keg him. He knew I was going after him. And he’s like, ‘It’s a good play, don’t say sorry’. He is actually a super nice guy.”
After getting past Michelsen, the challenge only rises for the Italian in Miami. He will next face Frances Tiafoe in what will be their sixth meeting on tour, with Sinner holding a 4-1 lead in their head-to-head. According to PFSN’s Tennis Simulator, the world No. 2 also holds a 92% chance of winning this contest.
