Sinner Reaches Miami Open Final, Seeking Sunshine Double

Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner advances to face Jiri Lehecka in the Miami Open championship match.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 7:25pm

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Jannik Sinner, the second-ranked men's tennis player, has reached the final of the 2026 Miami Open after defeating Alexander Zverev in straight sets. Sinner, who sat out last year's tournament due to a suspension, is now one win away from capturing the 'Sunshine Double' by winning both the Indian Wells and Miami Open titles in the same year, a feat last accomplished by Roger Federer in 2017.

Why it matters

Sinner's run to the Miami final comes after a tumultuous year in which he served a three-month suspension for a positive drug test. His return to the championship match demonstrates his resilience and ability to bounce back from adversity. A Sunshine Double title would cement Sinner's status as one of the top players on the ATP Tour.

The details

Sinner, 24, defeated fourth-ranked Alexander Zverev 6-3, 7-6(4) in the semifinal match. The Italian served 15 aces and has now beaten Zverev seven consecutive times. Sinner previously won the 2024 Miami Open title but was unable to defend his crown last year due to his suspension. In the final, Sinner will face 21st-seeded Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic, who advanced by routing Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-2.

  • Sinner sat out the 2025 Miami Open while serving a three-month suspension.
  • Sinner captured the first leg of the Sunshine Double on March 15 by winning the Indian Wells title.
  • The 2026 Miami Open final will be played on Sunday.

The players

Jannik Sinner

A 24-year-old Italian tennis player who is currently ranked second in the world. Sinner is seeking to become the first male player since Roger Federer in 2017 to win the 'Sunshine Double' by capturing both the Indian Wells and Miami Open titles in the same year.

Jiri Lehecka

A 21-year-old Czech tennis player who is ranked 21st in the world. Lehecka is making his first appearance in an ATP Masters 1000 final.

Alexander Zverev

A 25-year-old German tennis player who is ranked fourth in the world. Zverev was the crowd favorite in the semifinal match against Sinner.

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What they’re saying

“Coming here and trying to produce some good tennis was my main goal, and standing here again in the final means very much to me. It has been an incredible swing and I couldn't be better. I'm very happy.”

— Jannik Sinner

“Today was a great match. Definitely brought me a lot of confidence going into the Sunday final. I must say that it was one of the better matches that I played in my life.”

— Jiri Lehecka

What’s next

Sinner will face Lehecka in the 2026 Miami Open final on Sunday.

The takeaway

Jannik Sinner's return to the Miami Open final after serving a suspension last year demonstrates his resilience and ability to bounce back from adversity. A Sunshine Double title would cement his status as one of the top players on the ATP Tour.