Sinner Rallies to Extend Sets Streak and Advance in Miami
World No. 2 triumphs over Michelsen, next facing either Tiafoe or Atmane
March 24, 2026
Rich Storry/Getty Images
Jannik Sinner showcases his skills against Alex Michelsen on Tuesday in Miami.
By Andy West
Jannik Sinner pulled off a thrilling comeback on Tuesday, preserving his impressive ATP Masters 1000 sets streak while securing his quarter-final spot at the Miami Open presented by Itau.
The No. 2 player in the PIF ATP Rankings defeated local favorite Alex Michelsen with scores of 7-5, 7-6(4) at Hard Rock Stadium, keeping his quest for the elusive ‘Sunshine Double’ alive. The Indian Wells champion rallied from a challenging 2-5 deficit in the second set to clinch victory in 1 hour and 42 minutes, marking his record-extending 28th consecutive set win at Masters 1000 events.
Most Consecutive Sets Won at ATP Masters 1000 Level* (Since 1990)
*Walkover loss stops the streak
“I felt my serve was a great asset today, especially in those crucial moments and during the tie-break, so I’m quite pleased with that,” Sinner remarked. “However, I know there’s room for improvement in my baseline game if I want to go far in this tournament. Fortunately, tomorrow is a day off, which gives me a chance to refine my rhythm in practice. We’ll see how it goes.”
“The conditions were entirely different from last night, so I’m satisfied with my resilience. It was a tightly contested match against Alex. He’s a formidable opponent, so I feel good about the win.”
Another milestone achieved by @janniksin 🫡@MiamiOpen | #MiamiOpen pic.twitter.com/8qbrwR4RGI
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 24, 2026
According to Infosys ATP Stats, Sinner won a staggering 90% (38/42) of points on his first serve during the match against Michelsen. The Italian star will need similar performance levels as he faces either the 19th seed Frances Tiafoe or Terence Atmane in the quarter-finals on Thursday, while aiming for further improvements.
“I didn’t play my best tennis today, so I had to find different ways to win,” Sinner reflected. “I have a better understanding of my game now, knowing that each day can present new challenges.”
Sinner’s serve strength kept him competitive in the match, although Michelsen established a significant lead in the second set. However, when serving at 5-3, Michelsen faltered, allowing Sinner to break back and maintain his pursuit of a 14th consecutive straight-sets victory at Masters 1000 level.
Michelsen regained his composure to force a tie-break, which Sinner opened with a breathtaking backhand down-the-line winner. After Michelsen claimed two quick return points, Sinner responded decisively by winning six out of the next seven points to secure the match, enhancing his record to 3-0 against Michelsen in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
With this victory, Sinner has now triumphed in his last 28 contests against American players, dating back to his loss against Ben Shelton in Shanghai in 2023. At 24 years old, the Italian is among the select few to reach the quarter-finals in his first five outings at the Miami Open presented by Itau, joining the ranks of legends like Yannick Noah and Stefan Edberg.
