World No.2 Jannik Sinner was solid against young American Alex Michelsen 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Masters 1000 in Miami (Florida, United States) on Tuesday.
In the women’s draw, Coco Gauff continued her up-and-down tournament with another difficult match in three sets against the Swiss Belinda Bencic (29 years old, 12th) 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in 2h15, but managed to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
Sinner, who is aiming for the “Sunshine double” after his title in Indian Wells two weeks ago, did not tremble despite the good level displayed by his 21-year-old opponent, 40th in the world.
“I feel like I served well in the important moments,” noted Sinner, author of 15 aces.
Michelsen held the shock in the first set, saving three break points (5-4), before giving up his serve and the set (7-5).
The American led 5-2 and served for the second set at 5-3 before being overthrown by the Italian who, pushed to the tie-break and leading 3-1 in the deciding game, played the important points to perfection, thanks to great defenses or winning shots near the lines.
The former world No.1 folded the match with a winning service and will play in the next round against another American, Frances Tiafoe (28 years old, 20th), who came out of a tough encounter against the Frenchman Térence Atmane (24 years old, 53rd) 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.
For the fourth time in the tournament in as many meetings, the American Coco Gauff, not flamboyant, needed three sets. Gauff was even broken in the decisive round (3-2), before picking up again after a long game, then unwinding.
“I’m proud of myself, I didn’t think I’d get this far,” she told Tennis Channel.
She will play in the semi-final against the Czech Karolina Muchova, victorious against the Canadian Victoria Mboko 7-5, 7-6 (7/5).
Muchova (29 years old, 14th) achieved a great performance with 32 winning shots and only 13 unforced errors against Mboko (19 years old, 9th), whom she had already beaten in the final of the WTA 1000 tournament in Doha in February, her first title at this level.
Gauff is the favorite given the history between the two players: the young American won their five duels, twice in the final of a tournament of this level (Cincinnati-2023 and Beijing-2024), and again at the start of the season in the round of 16 of the Australian Open.
