Sinner haunts Zverev again to reach Miami showpiece

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Jannik Sinner recorded a seventh consecutive win over Alexander Zverev to book his place in the Miami Open final.

The world number two won 6-3 7-6 (7-4) to once again triumph over Zverev, as he did at Indian Wells earlier this month, and will now face Jiri Lehecka in the Miami showpiece.

After saving a break point in the third game of the first set, Sinner made the crucial breakthrough in the very next game as the Italian converted his first break point opportunity.

That was enough for Sinner to win the first, and he was on the front foot in the second, though he failed to capitalise on three break points, while Zverev squandered one of his own as the set went to a tiebreak.

Both players were strong on serve in the tiebreak, though Sinner's clinical nature came to the fore as he clinched victory with his first match point after Zverev lost just one point on serve.

"It has been a tough encounter," Sinner said after the win.

"He [Zverev] played some incredible tennis, so I was serving very well in the end, especially in the crucial moments. I am very happy and it means a lot to me."

"Coming here, trying to produce some good tennis, that was my main goal. Standing here again, in the final, means very, very much to me."

Sinner on the verge of completing Sunshine Double

After also winning the title at Indian Wells, Sinner is in good standing to become the first player since Roger Federer in 2017 to complete the Sunshine Double.

Since the format's introduction in 1990, only Andre Agassi (25) has now taken fewer main draws to reach 10 ATP Masters 1000 finals on hard court than Sinner (26).

Sinner is also the first player to reach the final at 3+ consecutive ATP Masters 1000 events without dropping a set.

Meanwhile, excluding the ATP Finals, Zverev has lost a 12th consecutive match against fellow ATP top-five opponents - since the rankings were first published in 1973, only David Ferrer (15) has more consecutive such losses.