By Richard Pagliaro | Wednesday, March 31, 2021
Jannik Sinner withstood Alexander Bublik's spin storm 7-6(5), 6-4 to reach his first Masters semifinal in just his third career Masters main-draw appearance.
Photo credit: Michael Reaves/Getty
Empowered by an electric forehand and savvy court sense, Jannik Sinner continues to ascend rare air in Miami.
Rallying from a break down in both sets, Sinner hit through Alexander Bublik's storm of chaotic creativity, 7-6(5), 6-4 to reach his first Masters semifinal in just his third Masters 1000 main-draw appearance.
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The 19-year-old Italian is the fourth youngest Miami Open semifinalist in history.
Miami has been a rite of passage event for world No. 1 players. Sinner is the 14th teenager to reach the quarterfinals or better in the 36-year history of the Miami Open. Ten of the previous 13—including Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi—went on to reach world No. 1.
"I'm 19, I still have to improve everything," Sinner said. "You know, some matches you play good; some matches you maybe make some mistakes. Yeah, for me, the most important thing is to stay there every point, trying your best every match and every practice session. And then something is coming for sure."
Of course, Sinner can't allow himself to contemplate career trajectory right now. The teenager who started the season practicing with Rafael Nadal then won his second ATP title at the Melbourne tune-up tournament for the Australian Open will face either Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev or seventh-seeded Roberto Bautista Agutfor a spot in the final.
Sinner's grace around the court, the crackling power he generates from smooth swings off both wings, shrewd court sense and problem-solving skills in the face of the entire shot spectrum Bublik threw at him shows you why some Hall of Famers, including John McEnroe, tout Sinner as a future Grand Slam champion.
Unranked to open 2018, Sinner is now at a career-high No. 24 in the live rankings, but knows that can feel like light years from where he ultimately aims to be.
"No. 1 in the world is very long way to go," Sinner told Tennis Channel's Prakash Amritraj afterward. "Obviously, I'm working for that but I'm not thinking about that to be honest.
"I'm looking to improve day after day and that and we'll see what's happening in the next 20 years hopefully."
Today's first quarterfinal was a rematch of Sinner's gritty 2-6, 7-6, 6-4 second round victory over Bublik in Dubai on March 16th.
Taking an explosive rising phenom put him against a highly creative merry prankster who unleashed the underhand serve, multiple drop shots, a rocket return he called "the best forehand I've ever hit in my life" and the SABA, his twist on Roger Federer's SABR and you get a crazy cool plot line. Mix in the tricky wind, the high sun and a couple of gags on smashes and double faults and you can understand why a smiling Sinner looked like a man who had survived a thrill ride.
As impressive as the 28 forehand winners Sinner fired was his ability to continue to fire away amid the eclectic wave of unpredictable variety Bublik threw at him.
"We had a tough battle two weeks ago in Dubai and tough here today was well," Sinner said. "It was a bit strange. Today he was changing the game strangely.
"I never had this kind of match to be honest. At some point he was not moving, but he won the point. I just tried to stay there sticking into the match and I'm happy about my performance today."
Serving for the first set at 5-4, Bublik lost the range on his first serve. Sinner froze him with a forehand return deep down the middle. Bublik's creative indulgence got the best of him when dipped a backhand drop shot. Quick off the mark, Sinner streaked up to the ball and slammed a forehand winner for break point.
Reading the slice second serve, Sinner scorched a forehand return winner down the line breaking back to level after 10 games. The slender Italian threaded a 107 mph ace out wide denying break point for 6-5.
Bublik answered with force and finesse bolting a 135 mph serve to save a set point then dabbing a dropper to draw Sinner in before hitting a hopping forehand pass to force the tie breaker. Bublik went up 5-3 in the breaker when Sinner made his move.
Trying to extend his lead with a serve-and-volley, Bublik made a fine backhand volley but Sinner swept a crosscourt pass to level at 5-all. Sinner pounced on a short volley banging a backhand for set point at 6-5. A wild opening set ended when Bublik floated a rally ball long. Sinner took the 56-minute opener after trailling for much of the set.
The first man from Kazakhstan to reach a Masters 1000 quarterfinal, Bublik built a 3-0 second-set lead only to see Sinner break at love sparking a surge that saw him win six of the final seven games.
The pair shared smiles of mutual respct at net.
"What do you mean?" Bublik replied. "You're not a human man! You're 15 years old and [you play like this]. Good job."