Can Sinner Achieve the ‘Sunshine Double’? A Clash with Lehecka Awaits in Miami Final
The World No. 2 has impressively won his last 16 ATP Masters 1000 matches without dropping a set.
March 28, 2026
Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Sinner boasts a 3-0 record against Lehecka in their Lexus ATP Head2Head encounters.
By Jerome Coombe
Jannik Sinner is on the verge of another remarkable achievement at the Miami Open presented by Itau, set to face the formidable Jiri Lehecka in Sunday’s final.
Ranked No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, Sinner aims to join an elite group of players — the eighth man and the first since Roger Federer in 2017 — to accomplish the coveted ‘Sunshine Double’ following his victory at Indian Wells earlier this month. To make history, the Italian will have to counter Lehecka’s fierce ball strikes and impressive service games that propelled him into his first ATP Masters 1000 final.
The grand finale approaches this Sunday 🎭 @MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/R7ywIwWyPN
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 28, 2026
After Sebastian Korda’s shocking victory over World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the third round, the upper half of the draw became wide open. Lehecka has capitalized on this opportunity, advancing to the biggest final of his career without losing his serve across five matches, combining aggressive play with laser-focused serving, highlighted by his impressive upset over World No. 7 Taylor Fritz in the fourth round.
To challenge Sinner, Lehecka will need to go a step further, maintaining his aggression but increasing his boldness. His capacity to disrupt rhythm, strike early, and command short rallies was evident in his convincing 6-2, 6-2 semi-final victory over Arthur Fils. However, against Sinner — known for his dominant offensive play — that strategy will face its toughest test yet.
Sinner has remained unfazed, having claimed victory in his last 32 sets at Masters 1000 tournaments. Following a commanding quarter-final win against Frances Tiafoe — who referred to him as “one of the best ball strikers the game has ever seen” — Sinner further solidified his reputation with a seventh consecutive win against Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.
“Coming here, my focus was on delivering strong tennis, and that was my main goal,” Sinner remarked after reaching his fourth Miami final. “Being here again, in the final, means so much to me.”
Sinner’s impressive streak in Miami puts additional pressure on Alcaraz in the race for World No. 1. Although he trails the Spaniard by 1,540 points in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, a victory would narrow the gap to 1,190. With no points to defend until the Rome tournament, Sinner arrives in top form as he gears up for the European clay season.
Meanwhile, Lehecka has ascended to a career-high No. 14 in the Live Rankings and seeks to deliver one final audacious performance. Despite trailing 0-3 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head history without winning a set against Sinner, his current level indicates that he poses a more formidable challenge than their previous encounters may suggest.
“It feels fantastic. It’s certainly been my aim throughout the year and in the pre-season,” Lehecka expressed when discussing his excellent form after thoroughly defeating Fils in the semis. “I’ve always believed in my game and the preparation I’ve done. Timing didn’t matter; I knew I would find this form and today was the perfect example of how I want to play. I executed effectively, so I’m very pleased with my performance today.”
Lehecka is on the hunt for his third ATP Tour title, having previously won in Adelaide (2024) and Brisbane (2025), while Sinner is in pursuit of his 26th tour-level title to draw even with his fierce rival Alcaraz.
