Miami, FL – Jannik Sinner extended his impressive run at the Miami Open, securing his place in the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6(4) victory over American Alex Michelsen on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Coco Gauff battled through another challenging three-set match, overcoming Belinda Bencic to reach the semi-finals. The Masters 1000 tournament in Miami continues to deliver compelling action as players vie for the coveted ‘Sunshine Double’ and crucial ranking points.
Sinner, the No. 2 ranked player in the world, demonstrated resilience against the 21-year-old Michelsen, who provided a stern test. The Italian, aiming for the ‘Sunshine Double’ after his recent triumph at Indian Wells, relied on a strong serve, particularly in crucial moments, firing 15 aces throughout the match. “I felt like the serve helped me quite a lot today, especially in important moments and in the tie-break, so I’m happy about that,” Sinner said after the match. He acknowledged the need for improvement from the baseline, stating, “At the same time, I recognize that if I desire to go far in this tournament, I have to improve from the back of the court.”
The first set saw a tight contest, with Michelsen saving three break points at 5-4 before ultimately succumbing to Sinner’s pressure and dropping his serve to concede the set 7-5. The second set proved even more dramatic, as Michelsen surged to a 5-2 lead and even served for the set at 5-3. However, Sinner mounted a remarkable comeback, breaking back and forcing a tie-break. In the tie-break, Sinner found his rhythm, playing defensively and hitting winners to secure the set 7-6(4). He will next face Frances Tiafoe, who overcame Terence Atmane in a three-set battle.
The match between Sinner and Michelsen also extended Sinner’s streak of consecutive sets won at Masters 1000 events to a record-extending 28. This surpasses Novak Djokovic’s previous record of 24, and further solidifies Sinner’s dominance on the tour. The streak began at the 2025 Paris Masters and remains active.
French Contingent Falls Short
While Arthur Fils continues to fly the French flag in the quarter-finals, the hopes of a larger French presence in the latter stages of the tournament were dashed on Tuesday. Terence Atmane, fresh off a notable victory against Felix Auger-Aliassime, fell short against Frances Tiafoe, losing 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in a match lasting just under two hours. Atmane had opportunities, earning three break points at 4-4 in the deciding set, but Tiafoe held firm to secure the victory.
Ugo Humbert also exited the tournament, losing to Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 6-4. Quentin Halys set up a valiant fight against Alexander Zverev, pushing the German to two tie-breaks, but ultimately fell short, losing 7-6(4), 7-6(1). Halys didn’t manage to earn a single break point opportunity throughout the match.
Gauff Battles to Semi-Finals
Coco Gauff continued her somewhat shaky path through the Miami Open, needing three sets to defeat Belinda Bencic 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in a match that lasted two hours and 15 minutes. Gauff, who has yet to display her top form at this tournament, found herself broken in the decisive set before rallying to secure the win. “I’m proud of myself, I didn’t think I would gain this far,” Gauff told Tennis Channel after the match.
Gauff will face Karolina Muchova in the semi-finals. Muchova delivered a strong performance, defeating Victoria Mboko 7-5, 7-6(5) with 32 winners and only 13 unforced errors. Gauff holds a commanding 5-0 head-to-head record against Muchova, including victories in the finals of Cincinnati (2023) and Beijing (2024), as well as in the Australian Open earlier this season, making her the clear favorite in their upcoming clash.
The Miami Open continues to showcase thrilling tennis action, with Sinner and Gauff leading the charge as they pursue their respective goals. The tournament is a key warm-up event for the upcoming clay court season and offers valuable ranking points as players prepare for the French Open.
Next up for Jannik Sinner is a quarter-final showdown against Frances Tiafoe. Coco Gauff will face Karolina Muchova in the semi-finals. Stay tuned to Archysport for continued coverage of the Miami Open.
