Sinner eases past Dimitrov in Miami, Rublev will be next

Jannik Sinner may not be getting the attention that Carlos Alcaraz is getting this week in Miami, but do not be fooled. The Italian is enjoying an excellent start to his 2023 season and his fine play continued unabated on Sunday in South Florida as he edged past Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-4 to set a round of 16 clash with Russia’s Andrey Rublev.

Sinner, the 2021 runner-up in Miami, jumps to 18-4 on the season.

The 21-year-old won 19 of 26 second-serve return points and broke Dimitrov’s serve five times from 11 opportunities to level the pair’s head-to-head at one apiece.

“I can be very happy with my returning game, especially on second serves, when I tried to be very aggressive,” Sinner said. “He’s such a talented and intelligent player, so I am very happy about how I played today.”

The 21-year-old Italian beat Serb Laslo Djere (6-4, 6-2) ahead of his victory.

In the previous round of the Miami Open, Dimitrov, ranked No 27, edged out German qualifier Jan-Lennard Struff (4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4).

Miami Masters, other third-round results (Hard Rock Stadium, hard, USD 8.800.000, most recent results first):

• Lorenzo Sonego vs. Frances Tiafoe
• Alex Molcan vs. Daniil Medvedev
• Christopher Eubanks vs. Gregoire Barrere
• Hubert Hurkacz vs. Adrian Mannarino
• Felix Auger-Aliassime vs. Francisco Cerundolo
• Quentin Halys vs. Mackenzie McDonald
• Cristian Garin vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas
• Karen Khachanov vs. Jiri Lehecka
• Casper Ruud vs. Botic van de Zandschulp: monday
• Carlos Alcaraz (1) beat Dusan Lajovic: 6-0, 7-6 (5)
• Emil Ruusuvuori beat Taro Daniel (WC): 6-3, 7-6 (3)
• Andrey Rublev beat Miomir Kecmanovic (29): 6-1, 6-2
• Taylor Fritz (9) beat Denis Shapovalov (24): 6-4, 6-4
• Holger Rune (7) beat Diego Schwartzman (31): 6-4, 6-2
• Tommy Paul (16) beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (20): 6-3, 7-5