Jannik Sinner created history by becoming the first man since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the Sunshine Double, sealing the feat with a dominant straight-set victory over Jiří Lehečka at the Miami Open.
The win marked his second consecutive Masters 1000 title and further narrowed the gap to world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the rankings. Following the contest, Sinner also shared his perspective on the race for the top spot.
Jannik Sinner Opts to Remain in the ‘Present Moment’ as Miami Win Intensifies No. 1 Battle with Carlos Alcaraz
The rivalry between Sinner and Alcaraz continues to shape the current tennis landscape, with the two frequently trading positions at the summit of the ATP rankings. While Alcaraz currently holds the top spot, Sinner’s commanding Miami Open triumph has significantly closed the gap. Despite remaining world No. 2, the Italian now trails by just 1,190 points in the ATP Live Rankings.
While many believe the pressure of chasing the top spot against his archrival and sustaining his dominant form could weigh heavily on Sinner, the Italian has brushed aside such concerns. Speaking in his post-match press conference in Miami, the four-time Major champion emphasized that his immediate focus is to savor the victory before turning his attention to the upcoming clay-court swing.
“I think it’s so individual our sport that it’s very tough to. But as I said things doesn’t change as how I see, the big picture for me is depending on how I play and that should be the ranking no. Carlos has been so consistent for so long,” he said.
“Now we go on clay, where we all know how strong he is there. But I look on my side. For me, now the most important is to recover, enjoy this moment and I don’t have a lot of time to adjust, you know, and I’m playing on clay if I want to play Monaco,” he said.
Sinner emphasized the importance of staying in the present, saying, “So let’s see. For me I just try to enjoy this moment and not thinking too much, you know. I’ve always been someone who thinks in a very present moment. I don’t look in front, but I also don’t look backwards, you know. So, whatever comes comes. I’m very happy about this couple of tournaments and now a new chapter starts with the clay. So, let’s see how it goes.”
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Although Sinner has brushed aside the pressure of chasing the top spot, he has often found himself tested by Alcaraz on court. While the Italian claimed their most recent meeting at the ATP Finals in Turin, the Spaniard still holds a commanding 10-6 head-to-head advantage.
Notably, Alcaraz has won seven of their last 10 encounters, underlining his edge in the rivalry. Moreover, the European clay-court swing might showcase the next chapter of their intense rivalry, and it would be interesting to see if Sinner narrows the gap.
