Sinner and the physicist leave Alcaraz without number one and without a finish in Miami

In his 20th game of the course came the second defeat for Alcaraz. The executioner was Jannik Sinner in the Miami semifinal. The Italian prevailed 6-7 (4/7), 6-4 and 6-2 after three hours and two minutes of fight. The party had everything. An impressive first set, physical problems for Sinner, physical problems for Carlitos... a tennis roller coaster in which the Spaniard said goodbye to the world number one and the final of the tournament in which he was defending his title. Medvedev awaits Sinner in the final on Sunday (7:00 p.m., Movistar +).

Sinner issued a warning before beginning. "I am happy to play against Carlos because I look forward to these types of matches. They are usually very important matches and they make me improve, because I review them and see what I can do better. I feel that it makes me a better player. Here the court is fast and I think we both feel good on these pitches." That improvement was seen in the first section. The Italian commanded until the sixth game. With tennis at the limit and being very aggressive to the rest, he was able to get to 1-4. Alcaraz's service did not work and he had a rival in front of him who was going to attack to the minimum. Nothing to do with the four previous games. In the sixth game, Carlitos looked into the abyss. Sinner had a simple shot for 15-40 and to be at the gates of 1-5. He crashed it into the net.

Juan Carlos Ferrero did not have the face of previous days, but Alcaraz was able to survive in the first extreme situation. He chained three games in a row to change the dynamic that Sinner had imposed. He overcame the point of the year, which the Italian took after a 25-shot exchange, and began to lay down details. That he made a mistake in a drop, he solved it with an impossible balloon. And so he got the set on track until he reached the possibility of avoiding the tie-break with his serve. But Sinner did not give up. After saving a set point he was able to force a tie break with another break. And in the tie-break he came to dominate 2-4, but... the service that had not worked reliably for Alcaraz appeared on time. Five points in a row and an ace to finish off a 77-minute set.

The job was half done. But Sinner is very difficult for him to leave the game, for him to get lost. It's like he didn't mind giving up the first set like he did. He added a new break to start and Carlitos the game was getting steep again. He did not take advantage of the two break balls that he had in the first game that the Italian served and found himself with a scenario similar to that of the first set, but with time to react. In addition, Sinner put his hand to his left leg on several occasions trying to stretch. He was no longer comfortable on the track and Alcaraz added three consecutive games to return to command. The game was strange. In the break the ATP physiotherapist appeared. But instead of attending to Sinner, he went to the Spaniard's side. Some discomfort in the left hand that did not get worse. The party stalled. Alcaraz could shake it up in the eighth game, but he did not take advantage of the two break balls that he arranged. Sinner did not forgive in the next service of the Spaniard. And with his serve he balanced the duel after more than two hours.

After losing the first set in the last ten games, it was necessary to see how Carlitos responded. To begin with, he went to the locker room and Ferrero's pensive gesture in the box revealed a challenge without comparison to what he has experienced in recent days. On the return to the track, the Italian continued to do his thing. He was unfazed by the ten minute break. He got a break in the first game that he confirmed in the second. But the worst thing was not the breakup of Sinner. Alcaraz put his hand to his right leg, leaned on the advertising to stretch, did not run for some balls and could not hide a disturbing limp. The match became a matter of mere survival. But not only for Carlitos. Sinner felt that number one was not dead. He had to save a break point in the sixth game to maintain the lead. And it is that Alcaraz insisted on returning, but the service continued without responding. When he physically seemed resurrected, the serve left him. And Sinner met Medvedev.

Fifth final followed by Medvedev

Daniil Medvedev beat his compatriot Karen Khachanov 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-3 to play what will be his fifth consecutive final of the course, the first of his life in Miami. Medvedev has 23 wins in his last 24 games. He has been champion in Doha, Roterdam and Dubai and his only loss came in Indian Wells against Alcaraz. Medvedev will play his eighth final in a Masters 1,000, all of them on a hard surface. Medvedev was far from his best, but he was able to overcome his problems with the second serve.