World No. 2 Sinner dominates Tiafoe, the last American in Miami Open
Frances Tiafoe, exhilarated about meeting World No. 2 Jannik Sinner of Italy in a Miami Open quarterfinal on Thursday, said he was “super excited” about being an American playing in Miami and hearing the crowd “super amped up’’ after his Tuesday victory.
“Fear no man,’’ Tiafoe said, when asked about Sinner. “Just kind of go out there and believe. Why not? He puts his socks and undies on just like I do.’’
That might be true, but the red-haired Italian phenom plays tennis at another level.
Sinner, 24, defeated Tiafoe — the last American standing — 6-2, 6-2 in 71 minutes Thursday afternoon on Stadium Court at Hard Rock Stadium to reach a Miami semifinal for the fourth time in his five years at the tournament.
Sinner missed Miami last year while serving a three-month drug suspension, but won in 2024 and lost to Daniil Medvedev in the 2023 final.
Sinner will meet at 7 p.m. Friday the winner of Thursday night’s quarterfinal between No. 19 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina and soon-to-be No. 3 German Alex Zverev, who will rise from No. 4 (replacing current No. 3 Novak Djokovic) when the new ATP rankings are released Monday.
The Italian is 7-4 all time against Zverev and 4-2 against Cerundolo.
“Very happy,’’ Sinner said on court immediately after the win. “Its never easy. I know he had some very long matches — a couple of three setters — so I know that he might be slightly tired.
I tried to make it as physical as possible. It’s a very special tournament for me.”
Sinner enters his semifinal with a record 30 consecutive sets won at ATP Masters 1000 level tournaments and 29 consecutive victories over Americans as he attempts to become the first man to win back-to-back tournaments at Indian Wells, California, and Miami since Roger Federer last did it in 2017.
On Thursday, Sinner looked ready for the task, seemingly overwhelming the 28-year old American with fierce serves and a net game that had him win all eight points when he rushed forward.
He hit 33 winners to Tiafoe’s 7, and won 83% of his first serves — 92% in the first set.
“The biggest thing with him is he does the same thing over and over again,’’ said Tiafoe, who was born in Hyattsville, Maryland, and bought a home in Boca Raton in 2024. “He hits the ball super clean with great depth, and he moves super well. He serves at a high clip the majority of time.
“He makes the court feel pretty small with how well he moves, but also he hits the ball pure as day every shot. You feel like you almost have to press a little bit. Makes you feel like you’ve got to overplay. No excuses, the guy is a hell of a player.”
Sinner said that his quick start and aggressive serving gave him a “good mental perspective.”
“Today I was serving very well, especially in important moments.
“He had tough matches, long matches playing under the heat and finishing a little later a couple days ago. Breaking very early helped me. I wish him only the best. He’s a player improving a lot lately.”
As for his own tennis trajectory, Sinner said the most important thing is to keep improving — especially with the clay season approaching after Miami.
“Physically you need to be ready to compete,’’ he said. “What I’m doing is positive. I try to develop to be a good player [and] feel better and better every day on the court. There always has to be a reason behind everything, not just to do it.’’
GAUFF ADVANCES TO FINAL
World No. 4 and Miami Open favorite Coco Gauff dominated 14th-ranked Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-1 in a late afternoon semifinal to advance to her first final at Miami after previously never getting past the Round of 16. She did it in 1 hour 29 minutes. Gauff, of Delray Beach, will meet the winner of the other women’s Thursday semifinal between World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Elena Rybakina. The women’s final is Saturday afternoon.
This story was originally published March 26, 2026 at 4:46 PM.
