Sinner eclipses Djokovic with Miami set streak
Jannik Sinner’s unflinching run reaches 26 straight Masters 1000 sets after a clinical takedown of Corentin Moutet, fueling his chase for the Sunshine Double and a shot at world No. 1.
Under the humid glow of Hard Rock Stadium, Jannik Sinner dismantled Corentin Moutet in a 6-1, 6-4 masterclass, etching ATP Masters 1000 history with his 26th consecutive set won. The Italian’s serve dominated from the outset, claiming 87 percent of first-serve points—33 out of 38—while his groundstrokes carved precise angles that left the Frenchman chasing shadows. This third-round victory at the Miami Open presented by Itau not only surpassed Novak Djokovic‘s mark of 24 but carried the quiet intensity of a player building toward something larger amid the Florida heat.
Sinner’s backhand inside-out winners pierced the night air, forcing Moutet into defensive lobs that the Italian punished with down-the-line returns. The crowd’s energy built with each hold, sensing the inevitability as Sinner controlled the tempo without a hint of vulnerability. His preparation against left-handers, now unbeaten in 21 matches, turned what could have been a stylistic puzzle into a straightforward dissection.
“I am very happy,” Sinner said following his victory. “This sport is unpredictable, so we try to keep attention as much as we can and we’ll see what is coming in the next round.”
Streak demands unyielding focus
The run began last November at the Paris Masters, where Sinner claimed the title without dropping a set, then replicated the feat at the BNP Paribas Open in March. Two wins in Miami have now stretched it to 26 sets since 1990, alongside 13 straight Masters 1000 matches that test his resolve under mounting pressure. Each point feels like a safeguard against the tour’s chaos, with the hard-court swing’s fatigue lurking in every rally.
Sinner’s game plan leaned on heavy topspin forehands to drive Moutet deep, disrupting any chance for the Frenchman’s underspin to take hold. He fired 23 winners to Moutet’s 11, his crosscourt redirects keeping the lefty off-balance in extended exchanges. This mental fortitude, forged through offseason tweaks, turns the streak’s weight into a rhythm that propels him forward.
Lefty tactics yield total control
Against Corentin Moutet, Sinner neutralized the unorthodox slices and drop shots with a 1–2 pattern, following serves with aggressive forehand approaches that opened the court wide. The first set slipped away in under 30 minutes, his footwork covering ground effortlessly to turn potential breaks into holds. By the second, with the score at 6-1, Moutet’s rhythm never materialized, improving their head-to-head to 2-0 for the Italian.
Sinner’s adjustments for southpaws shone in subtle shifts, like wide serves to exploit the weaker backhand, honed from prior clashes. ATP Stats capture the efficiency: a one-hour, 11-minute affair where his anticipation turned Moutet’s flair into frustration. This victory extends his dominance, setting a tactical blueprint for the rounds ahead on Miami’s grippy hard courts.
“There’s Ben [Shelton], Tien, Shapovalov, Moutet,” Sinner said. “I don’t want to forget other players, but we try to prepare in the best way possible, trying to be tactical and as perfect as possible.”
Sunshine double nears with rankings shift
With Carlos Alcaraz falling to Sebastian Korda in the third round, Sinner eyes a chance to close the gap in his World No. 1 battle, free from defending points here. His next test comes Tuesday against Alex Michelsen, who outlasted Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, in a bid for the Sunshine Double last achieved by Roger Federer in 2017. The psychological edge sharpens as Miami’s crowds swell, every match a step toward redefining his season under the stadium lights.
Sinner’s flat returns and varied spin will probe Michelsen’s baseline aggression, much like his handling of Moutet. The streak’s momentum, unbroken through Paris and Indian Wells, carries the tension of legacy on these courts where the ball skids with purpose. As he advances, the No. 2-ranked Italian stands on the cusp of history, his focus a quiet force amid the tournament’s roar.
Read more: Sinner’s Miami match report
